
NEW YORK 
1900 


The Homesteader's 

Daughter 


A Story 
of the Times 

(FOUNDED ON FACT) 


BY 

Jennes 

Bryansen 









“THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN MUST BE SAVED.” 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


A Story of the Times 

(FOUNDED ON FACT) 


BY 


Jennes 


Bryansen >J 


NEW YORK 
1900 




Copyright, 1900 


v 

m fULtHA NGS. * 


MAR 1 3 IMB 


THE HOMESTEADER’S DAUGHTER. 




CHAPTER I. 

Saved from a Blizzard. 

Virginia Grafton awoke one morning a real heroine. Her 
name had gone with lightning speed into every part of the 
world where the daily newspaper was read. Already let- 
ters and telegrams were on their way to her, conveying 
congratulations and praise, and some of them tendering 
more siibstantial appreciation. Presents of value and ele- 
gance, accompanied by the most fervent letters of trans- 
mittal, began to pour in upon her befaf&,«$he^ had half- 
opened her eyes to the fact that she had done anything to 
entitle her to more than passing rfqtice,; What had she 
done, anyway, to cause all this interest and laudation? 

She and her little school had been enveloped in a bliz- 
zard. It was impossible for them to stay longer in the 
schoolhouse, and it seemed madness to go out into the 
storm and hope to reach a place of safety. Yet something 
must be done. No one dared venture to the coal-house for 
fuel, and the benches had been consumed to keep the chil- 
dren from freezing. Every mouthful of food brought for 
the noonday meal by pupils and teacher had been eaten. 
The snow, mixed with sand and particles of burnt stubble, 
was beating hard against the windows; the howl of the wind 
was like that o’f a maddened animal; the day had been 
turned into night by the thickness of the storm; the house 
trembled at times as if it would break in pieces; and, as a 
last warning, a window gave way to the violence of the 


4 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


blizzard. This threw the children into a panic, and it was 
only by the greatest effort of the brave little teacher that 
they were prevented from rushing out of the house into the 
teeth of the storm. Something now had to be done quickly. 
To wait longer for help from the outside would be suicidal. 
The schoolroom was rapidly filling with snow, and every 
child would be frozen to death within an hour. If any 
father or brother had started out in the storm in the hope 
of rescuing the blizzard-bound school he had been lost. 
The teacher gave up all hope of succor from this source. 
The lives of the children must be saved, and the teacher 
nerved herself to the hazardous undertaking. She had 
faced the dangers of many a storm on the prairie and she 
fully realized the awful responsibility she was about to 
assume. She hurriedly took off her underskirt, and, by a 
skillful use of her penknife, ripped it into strips. These she 
tied together and with the line thus made of the strips 
bound the children securely in a column, with the smallest 
pupils near the head. She then took her bearings with a 
small pocket compass, which she had used many times in 
her life in determining her course on the ocean-like prairie 
and upon which she placed implicit confidence. With this 
as her guiding-star, she was ready to go forth into the 
relentless storm, hoping and praying that she might be 
able to save the lives of the dear children under her charge. 

“ Now, my dear children,” said she, “ you must walk 
close together; be brave and follow me. I shall lead you 
by the line I have made of my skirt, and with the help of 
our Heavenly Father, who has promised help in time of 
need, we shall endeavor to find safety in the nearest farm- 
house. Do not pull back lest you break the line; try and 
not fall down; but if you do, cry out, so we shall all stop 
at once till you get up; the larger pupils must not go too 
fast for the younger ones, and by being steady and strong 
and patient we may be saved.” 


A Story of the Times 


5 


The door was thrown open and in the face of the cold, 
pelting, whirling, merciless storm the courageous teacher 
led forth her flock of precious souls to battle with the ele- 
ments and make a struggle for their lives. She had placed 
her compass in her mitten where she could consult it con- 
stantly; and, having taken the bearings of every house in 
the district tributary to the school, she took the direction 
indicated by the compass to the nearest place of safety, 
and pursued this course as the mariner does on the bosom 
of the broad ocean in darkness and storm. The prairie was 
slightly undulating, and the snow on the protected sides 
of the hills was piled in drifts, while in the more exposed 
places the ground was comparatively bare. The teacher 
occasionally reminded the children that they were going 
in the right direction, and that if they would be brave and 
hold out she believed all would be saved. She would say, 
“ The little compass I have shown yQU often cannot tell a 
lie, and it is pointing straight to Mr. Browning’s house, 
where we shall be welcome till the storm is over. We shall 
soon be there. Be brave, my darlings.” 

The children believed in their teacher, and so far as they 
were able, obeyed her every instruction. Now and then, 
when a strong gust of wind would strike the little line of 
struggling heroes, one or more of the youngest and weak- 
est would fall, but they were quickly helped to their feet 
and the column would move on. Thus they battled with 
the storm, which seemed to be increasing in violence and 
fury every minute; but the children had faith in their 
teacher and followed her in trusting determination. With 
her eye on the compass she led the way, and believed she 
had passed over most of the distance between the school- 
house and the Browning home. Suddenly there was a 
shriek from the rear end of the column and the line jerked 
back hard enough to break it. 


6 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


“ Stand still,” cried the teacher, “ let no one move while 
I find out what the trouble is.” 

She soon discovered that three of the largest boys had 
deviated far enough from the direct line of march to fall 
into a “ slough well ” which had been left uncovered. For- 
tunately it was not very deep and she was able to pull the 
boys out and soon made them fast to the line. As she 
went forward to the head of the column she cheered each 
child with some encouraging word. Two little fellows 
were nearly exhausted; indeed, all were in a condition not 
to last much longer. The teacher herself was benumbed 
and almost worn out with the exertion and anxiety she had 
undergone. Suddenly the column was brought to a halt 
by one of the smallest children falling completely exhausted. 
The child was so far gone that it was impossible for the 
teacher to rally him, and she took him up in her arms and 
continued the march. With this additional burden upon 
her it required all of her courage to continue the struggle. 
She could hardly see the face of her compass. Two other 
children gave out and lay down to die. She could not 
carry all three, and two of the oldest pupils gallantly took 
it upon themselves to bear them in their arms. The con- 
dition of things was growing disheartening enough to try 
the bravest spirit. The teacher braced herself to a last 
effort. Her sweet voice rose above the hum of the storm 
as she cheered the children with words full of the courage 
of her own soul. Her words acted like a stimulant on the 
children and they nerved themselves anew for the struggle 
still before them. When it seemed that they must succumb, 
the head of the column came up suddenly against a 
fence. The teacher cried out, “ Children, we have found 
a fence and I think we are saved. It must be the fence 
around Mr. Browning’s stable, for he has no other Wood 
fence on his place.” The children gave a cry of delight, 
and all were made stronger except the little ones who were 


A Story of the Times 


7 


being carried and seemed unconscious. The column 
groped its way along the fence, touching it occasionally 
to know that they had not lost their new-found guide. 
When they had gone far enough to be on the side where 
the house was indicated to be by the compass, the teacher 
lay down on the snow and peered towards what seemed 
to be the dim outlines of a house. To her inexpressible 
joy she saw a light, very dim, but unmistakable. Taking 
up the unconscious child in her arms and rallying the 
others in the column, she moved in the direction of the 
beacon-light from the window of a homesteader’s abode. 
A few steps further and the teacher was at the door knock- 
ing for admittance, and thanking God that she was there 
with the thirty-five precious children who had followed her 
lead with such abiding faith and enduring courage. The 
door was thrown open and they were admitted to shelter 
and warmth, Mrs. Browning and her two grown daughters 
were wild with joy when they saw that the teacher and 
children were safe in their home. Mrs. Browning’s joy 
was greater because one of her own children was among 
the saved, yet her heart was full of thankfulness on account 
of the others. The children were wrapped in warm blank- 
ets and given wafm coffee to drink, and, as soon as pos- 
sible, warm food. The unconscious children were stripped 
.and bathed in warm water and thoroughly rubbed until 
the circulation of the blood was restored. Within a half- 
hour all had been cared for and were resting comfortably. 
Mrs. Browning and her daughters had been so engaged 
with the children that they had not missed Mr. Browning, 
who had gone out early in the storm for the purpose of 
bringing the school children to his home. But now hav- 
ing time to look about them and not seeing him, they all 
asked, fixing their eyes upon Virginia: “Where is papa?” 

“ We have not seen him,” she answered. 


8 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


“Why!” exclaimed Mrs. Browning, “did he not fetch 
you from the schoolhouse? ” 

“ No,” replied Virginia, “ we have not seen him.” 

“ Oh, merciful Father, he must be lost! ” exclaimed Mrs. 
Browning; “he went out into the storm to bring the school 
here, and you have not seen him ! ” 

The two daughters at once began to cry in the most hys- 
terical manner, declaring that they knew “ papa must be 
lost in the blizzard,” and the three began to pray for his 
deliverance. 

Virginia, though in a greatly weakened condition, en- 
deavored to console and reassure them. She said: 

“ Most certainly Mr. Browning can take care of himself. 
If I was able to bring the children safely from the school- 
house here, he would be able to find shelter.” 

Mrs. Browning and her daughters were so wrought up 
that they seemed unable to comprehend anything that 
pointed toward the possible safety of Mr. Browning. The 
one awful vision seemed to have engulfed them — that he 
was lost in the blizzard. Finally, however, Virginia suc- 
ceeded in quieting them, and, feeling the absolute need of 
rest she drank a cup of coffee and retired to bed. 

Toward morning the storm abated somewhat, and about 
eleven o’clock in the forenoon had gone down sufficiently to 
allow persons to go out. Mrs. Browning and her 
daughters, assisted by Virginia, dug their way through the 
drifts to the stable and shed to discover the fate of the 
stock. They found the horses lifted nearly to the roof 
of the stable by the impacted snow, mixed with dirt and 
sand, and in a most pitiable condition,. By great effort 
they succeeded in digging away enough of the drift to 
enable the animals to emerge from their prison of snow. 
It was found that the cow-shed, which was made by run- 
ning the straw from the thresher over a framework of poles, 
was entirely free from drift, and to this the horses were, 


A Story of the Times 


9 


after some considerable trouble, transferred. As the 
women were moving about in the stable, doing what they 
were able to do to relieve the immediate wants of the stock, 
one of the daughters stepped on something which gave 
her such a fright that she screamed and ran toward the 
door. Her mother and sister followed her, demanding in 
an excited way the cause of her alarm. The girl was so 
frightened that she stood speechless. Virginia, discover- 
ing that nothing could be obtained from the girl in the 
way of an explanation, went in search of the cause. _ She 
soon found the form of a man, half-buried in the straw, 
in a semi-unconscious condition, with his hands and face 
badly frozen. It was so dark in the unlighted stable that 
she could not discern his features, but she took hold of 
him and attempted to drag him to the light of the door. 
Her strength was not equal to the task, however, and she 
called to the other women to come to her aid. They all 
cried out: 

“ It must be papa; oh! papa is dead.” 

It took Virginia some time to persuade them that the 
man was not dead and that he needed assistance to save his 
life. She finally induced them to come to her aid. As 
soon as they took hold of the man, however, they 
screamed and ran away tov/ard the door. In utter despair 
of getting help from the frightened women, Virginia re- 
doubled her efforts and finally dragged the man to the door, 
where she discovered that it was not the body of Mr. 
Browning, but that of Mr,. Moore, a ranchman whose place 
was not far from that of her father. When Mrs. Brown- 
ing and her daughters saw that it was not Mr. Browning, 
they became sufficiently composed to take hold of the body 
and assist Virginia in half carrying, half dragging it toward 
the house. They had not gone far when several men drove 
up in a two-horse sled. They had been to the schoolhouse, 
and finding the back of a book which Virginia had been 


io The Homesteader’s Daughter 

thoughtful enough to nail to the blackboard on which she 
had written, “ Started for Mr. Browning’s at six o’clock, 
they immediately drove over to the Browning ranch, arriv- 
ing there in time to relieve the women of their painful task 
of carrying Mr. Moore to the house. After this had been 
accomplished they took Virginia aside and broke to her 
the sad news that they had the body of Mr. Browning in 
the sled, which they had found not far from the school- 
house, partly buried in a snowdrift. They begged her to 
communicate the dreadful fact to Mrs. Browning and her 
daughters. They declared they had not the heart to do it. 

The brave little teacher shrank from the ordeal, but 
finally consented to undertake it. Calling Mrs. Brown- 
ing and her daughters together, she accomplished her task 
with rare good judgment and great tact, but the effect was, 
nevertheless, crushing to a degree not easily described in 
words. In the midst of this scene of sorrow other ranch- 
men who had been to the schoolhouse came to the Brown- 
ing home. Among them came the father and mother of 
Virginia, who, after embracing their only child, and thank- 
ing God that she was safe, turned their attention to amelior- 
ating the sorrows of Mrs. Browning and her children. 
The men and women of the district continued to arrive 
until every child who had been saved by the intelligent 
heroism of Virginia had been clasped in the arms of his 
parents. Their feelings were those of mingled sadness and 
joy — joy because their own were saved, and sadness be- 
cause of the sorrow which had come to the Browning home. 
Probably no sUch scene was ever witnessed before. The 
strong, brave men kissed Virginia, wrung her hand, 
thanked God for such a woman, and hugged the children 
up to them as if to reassure themselves that they were not 
mistaken in finding their children alive, and gave expres- 
sion to their sorrow for poor Mrs. Browning and her chil- 
dren in a manner to leave no doubt of its depth and gen- 


A Story of the Times 


ii 


uineness. Their joy, however, was greater than their sor- 
row. They could sympathize truly with Mrs. Browning, 
but they could not appreciate the great loss that had come 
to her and the blackness of the cloud of despair which over- 
shadowed her heart and her home. 

Other fathers had started out in the storm for the pur- 
pose of rescuing the school, but, like Mr. Browning, never 
reached their destination. Bewildered and overcome by 
the whirling, blinding, cruel blizzard, they laid themselves 
down and died. In three cases, brothers, who were 
stronger than their fathers, attempted to brave the blizzard 
to save members of their families, and were beaten down 
by the storm into stupor and death. The entire community 
was in mourning, and yet rejoicing was in nearly every 
home in the district because the children had been saved. 
With one voice the people blessed and praised Virginia. 

Virginia’s father was among the number who had 
plunged into the blizzard with the determination of saving, 
if possible, his daughter and the dear little children under 
her care. After wandering over the prairie, he stumbled, 
half dead, against a settler’s house, and was taken in and 
cared for. When the storm had subsided, though in no 
condition to go out, Mr. Grafton insisted on being taken to 
the schoolhouse. Here he found the notice on the black- 
board and at once started for the Browning ranch. He 
had not driven far when he met Mrs. Grafton in a sleigh 
with the hired man. Mrs. Grafton was informed of the 
notice on the blackboard, and together the party drove to 
the Brownings’, hoping and praying that they might find on 
arriving their daughter and the children. 

Mr. Grafton took Mr. Moore in his sleigh to his ranch, 
where he could receive better care than at the Brownings’. 
Mrs. Grafton and Virginia remained to administer to the 
needs of Mrs. Browning and her sorrowing children. Yet, 
as soon as she could do so, Virginia went to other homes 


12 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


in the district upon which the cold hand of death had been 
laid. In fact, she was ubiquitous. Like an angel spirit 
she seemed to be everywhere comforting and helping. She 
had been popular in the district where she had lived all 
her life, and was esteemed and respected, but now she was 
the object of the admiration and love of every one, on ac- 
count of the ideal character brought out by the most try- 
ing circumstances. Notwithstanding the praise bestowed 
upon her, and the universal love manifested toward her on 
account of her great achievement in saving the school, 
and her endeavors to soften the sorrows of those who had 
suffered irreparable losses by reason of the storm, she 
seemed unconscious that she had done anything outside 
of the pale of simple duty. 

Letters and telegrams began to pour in upon the heroine 
school teacher, congratulating and praising her without 
stint. Valuable presents, and sums of money ranging 
from one to one hundred dollars, were received by her 
from persons of whom she had never heard, but who had 
read in the newspapers of her heroic deed. The money 
amounted in the aggregate to several hundred dollars. At 
first Virginia was disposed to return the presents and the 
money, but she was, dissuaded from this by those who ap- 
preciated more fully than the modest teacher the estimate 
placed upon her achievement by the country at large. Vir- 
ginia insisted, nevertheless, upon using the money for relief 
purposes. At her suggestion a committee was formed with 
a view to carrying out this idea. Many of the farmers in 
the community had recently settled upon land and were in 
the struggle of a beginning. Many of these were ill-pre- 
pared for the devastating blizzard which swept over that 
part of the State. These suffered most, some of them being 
in dire need of assistance. The money sent to Virginia 
was used for their relief; and many families were actually 
saved from prolonged suffering by this timely aid. The 



A Story of the Times 


13 


older and better-fixed homesteaders gave freely of grain 
and provisions to relieve the destitution of their newly- 
arrived neighbors, and contributions of provisions were re- 
ceived from older communities, but the money turned over 
by Virginia was a Godsend. No one felt more thankful 
than she toward those who had, by their generous apprecia- 
tion of her act, enabled her in this way to meet the wants 
of suffering humanity. 

Among the presents received by Virginia was a beautiful 
gold watch set in diamonds, and an elegant gold chain. 
With it came a letter which somewhat annoyed her, and 
decided her to return at once the valuable gift. The letter 
was postmarked in a New Jersey city, and read as follows: 

“ Dear Miss Grafton : — I have read of your heroic act in lead- 
ing more than thirty school-children through a terrible snow storm — 
called in your country, a blizzard, I believe — to a place of safety, 
and I have been so moved by the story that I beg you to accept of 
the accompanying watch, duly inscribed to you. It is a small token 
of my appreciation and admiration of the heroic teacher whose name 
is given as Virginia Grafton. A young woman of such rare qualities 
of head and heart must become the object of admiration, aye, even 
more than that, the love of manly and womanly hearts everywhere. 
Pardon me for saying to you that I am a wealthy young man, fancy- 
free, and that I have for a long time been on the lookout for just such 
a young woman as you have proved yourself to be, to whom I might, 
in a proper way, and at the proper time, pay my attentions with a 
view of making her my wife. May I have the honor and pleasure 
of visiting you under these circumstances ? I need hardly add that 
I shall be extremely pleased to place in your hands the highest testi- 
monials of my good character and position in society before I can 
expect a favorable answer from you. Will you be kind enough to 
consult with your parents, or such persons as you deem necessary, 
respecting my wish, and either directly or through them, inform me 
of your decision, at as early a day as shall be convenient for you? 

Believe me, sincerely, 

Your ardent admirer, 

John Hawley Van Kirk.” 

The epistle could hardly, have been more manly in letter 
and spirit. Virginia was bound to admit this, and made up 


14 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

her mind at once to treat it in the broad and generous 
spirit which prompted it. She showed it to her father and 
mother, and asked their advice as to what answer she 
should make. Both agreed that the letter could have 
emanated from no other than a gentleman, and hence gave 
their consent that a courteous and kindly reply should be 
sent. All things considered, it was also determined that 
the better thing to do with the watch and chain was to re- 
turn them, with the explanation that it would be hardly 
proper to accept a present of such value. This was done. 
Within a few days another letter from Mr. Van Kirk was 
received by Virginia, accompanied by a plainer gold watch 
and chain, with this inscription: 

“To Miss Virginia Grafton, the young school teacher who risked 
her life to save the lives of her school, and by rare judgment and 
great courage achieved an act which enshrines her name among the 
most renowned of her sex.” 

The letter urged acceptance of this simple token of ap- 
preciation and admiration, and added that the giver would 
consider it in no sense extravagance on his part if he 
should lay at her feet a present worth many times the value 
of the watch and chain. The letter begged in most respect- 
ful and earnest terms that the request of the writer ex- 
pressed in his first letter — that he be permitted to visit the 
home of the Graftons — be granted. 

With the consent of her parents, Virginia wrote to her 
generous admirer that the second watch would be ac- 
cepted in the spirit in which it was offered; that, while she 
felt he greatly overestimated her act in leading her school 
through the storm to a place of safety, yet, she truly ap- 
preciated his generous praise, and was thankful for all his 
kindly words and his most generous gift. She also in- 
formed him that after fully considering his request, with 
the approval of her parents she invited him to visit her 
home. She informed him that he would not find, perhaps, 


A Story of the Times 


15 


the luxuries of the East in the houses of homesteaders on 
the Western prairie, yet she felt certain he would find honest 
cordiality and genuine hospitality. She added that it might 
be well in the meantime to satisfy her father as to his char- 
acter. 

Within a fortnight Mr,. Grafton received from Mr. Van 
Kirk a letter thanking him for his decision and that of his 
family to allow him to visit their home. He enclosed let- 
ters from well-known banking firms and large corporations 
and trust companies endorsing him in the most unreserved 
terms. No credentials could have been more to the point 
or more exhaustive. The letters were all attested by record 
seals so that their genuineness could not be doubted. 

Mr. Grafton was well enough pleased with the prospect 
of a visit from a person enjoying such distinction, yet he 
had some misgivings as to the possible outcome of it all. 
It was perfectly clear to him that Mr. Van Kirk had con- 
ceived a strange admiration and fondness for his daughter, 
whom he had never seen, and of whom he actually knew 
nothing except what he had read in the newspapers, which 
told the story of her heroism in saving her school from de- 
struction by a blizzard. Mr. Grafton was not unmindful 
or wanting in appreciation of the greatness of his child’s 
achievement. Indeed, of all others he was most appre- 
ciative and proud of his daughter because of her splendid 
womanhood. In truth, he worshiped her as no other man 
could. Yet he knew also that she was only a plain, sen- 
sible, brave country girl, possessing very vague notions of 
the kind of society to which the wealthy Van Kirk was 
accustomed; and he felt that when the young man came to 
see Virginia he would soon lose his fancy for her; not be- 
cause she was not good enough for him — oh! no, not that, 
for she was good enough for any man — but because his 
notions would unfit him to judge of the real value of such 
a girl as Virginia. He might be able to judge correctly 


16 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

of the merits of the ladies of wealth and aristocracy, for 
he was of that class evidently, but what would he know 
of the value of such a girl as his daughter? “ He wouldn’t 
know,” observed Mr. Grafton, “ anymore about it than he 
would know the value of a Western steer on the range.” 
Besides, Mr. Grafton had very decided ideas about plu- 
tocracy, aristocracy, and all that, and he had a sneaking 
notion that Van Kirk belonged to that class, else he would 
not be endorsed so strongly by presidents of trusts and 
corporations. He remarked very emphatically to his wife 
one day, when they were talking about Van Kirk’s expected 
visit, that he could never consent to have his daughter 
marry a man who belonged to a class that looked down 
upon the common people with contempt. No; he would 
never consent to that. He was down on plutocracy be- 
cause, as he contended, plutocrats are oppressors of the 
people, and he would never compromise with them to the 
extent of allowing his daughter to marry into such a set. 
He recalled the fact that one of the strongest letters of 
commendation sent by Mr. Van Kirk was written on the 
letter-head of a trust, and calling the attention of his wife 
to the matter he said: 

“ This looks suspicious, wife, and we must go slow in 
this business. He may be a nice young man, and be sin- 
cere in his admiration of Virginia; but if he is in a trust oi 
is backed by a trust, we’ll have very little to do with him. 
Why! what would our Governor, and our great Senator, 
and all my friends, who are fighting like tigers against the 
’tarnal trusts, think and say should they hear that my girl, 
Virginia, my only child, was receiving the attentions of a 
plutocrat — one of the very worst, too, living as he does 
right down in New Jersey, which, as Mr. Bryan says, is a 
regular hotbed of trusts? This will never do, wife. It 
would ruin my prospects,. I am talked of, you know, for 
lieutenant-governor on the Pop ticket, and I’d stand no 


A Story of the Times 


17 


chance at all if it got out that I was harborin’ a plutocrat in 
my house, and that Virginia was being courted by a pam- 
pered son of a trust. I’m sorry now we wrote that letter 
inviting him to come to see us. But it is done and ^sup- 
pose we will have to stand by it.” 

“ Yes, my dear,” said Mrs. Grafton, “ I know what you 
say is true about plutocrats and trusts, but you know Mr. 
Van Kirk had not asked to be allowed to court Virginia. 
He only asked to be permitted to visit us; that is all, my 
dear.” 

“ Yes,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ I know that; but you know 
as well ds I do that he is cornin’ to see Virginia; that’s as 
plain as the crime of ’73, as Mr. Bryan says, just as plain 
as that — and I won’t consent to have any goldbug buzzin’ 
around my daughter — not if I can help it.*” 

“ You may be too prejudiced, papa, in judging of this 
man,” replied Mrs. Grafton. “ He may be, like yourself, 
on the side of the common people, and down on railroads 
and corporations and trusts,. Maybe he is for the rasho, 
too, and for referendum, and all them things which that 
great man, Mr. Bryan, talks so much about.” 

“What! and he from New Jersey, right up there near 
Wall Street? You must be crazy, wife; they don’t grow 
’em up there. They are bloodsuckers, every one of ’em. 
Bad as the Jersey ’skeeters which suck blood while the 
plutocrat sucks your hard earnings. You can bet your 
best cow, wife, that Van Kirk is a soulless plutocrat or else 
he wouldn’t be trainin’ with ’em.” 

“ It may be so, my dear,” meekly answered Mrs. Grafton, 
“but it might be well to wait and see before condemning 
him.” 

“Of course we’ll have to wait. We’re in for it; but I’ll 
bet a horse it’ll beat me for lieutenant-governor.” 


i8 




The Homesteader’s Daughter 


CHAPTER II. 

Ranchman Moore, who was found in the Stable, in 
love with Virginia. 

Mr. Moore, who made a heroic attempt to reach the 
schoolhouse in the hope of rendering aid to the school — 
but whose real motive was to help the teacher — and who 
came near freezing to death in his wanderings on the 
prairie, was now, thanks to the good nursing he had re- 
ceived at the Grafton home, able to be about. His “ face 
had peeled off” and his ears had resumed their normal size, 
while his hands were sufficiently recovered to enable him 
to feed himself. He was still in a badly used up condition, 
however, notwithstanding his rapid convalescence. He 
was happy and contented in spite of his physical condition, 
for the reason that he was under the same roof with Vir- 
ginia, and was being nursed and cared for partly by her. 

Mr. Moore was quite a favorite with Mr. Grafton be- 
cause of his position in the county as one of the principal 
ranchers, having eight hundred acres under fence, with 
substantial buildings, and possessing a large herd of cattle 
and a band of several hundred horses. In addition to this 
he had rather coincided with Mr. Grafton in his political 
views, and had taken quite an interest, in a certain way, 
in securing his election to the legislature.. This was 
all accentuated by Mr. Moore’s having asked of Mr. Graf- 
ton the privilege of paying his addresses to Virginia. For 
some time the latter had coaxed himself to believe that 
the match was practically settled, although Virginia had 
said nothing to him to confirm it, nor had she shown any 
particular interest in her suitor. In fact, she seemed more 


A Story of the Times 


19 


interested in books, in the study of plants and flowers, in 
the science of agriculture, in music, so far as she had op- 
portunity to study it, and, indeed, in going with her father 
hunting antelope and prairie-chickens, rather than in the 
young gentlemen of her acquaintance. 

It might be truthfully said that Mr. Grafton preferred 
Mr. Moore as a suitor for his daughter to any other young 
gentleman who had paid her any attention, not excluding 
a young State officer whom the Graftons had met during 
the winter Mr. Grafton had been in the legislature, and 
who had made several visits to the Grafton ranch. This 
young man, whom we shall know as Mr. Spellbinder, was 
one of the strongest and most popular advocates of the 
political doctrines which were as sacred to Mr. Grafton as 
the tenets of his religion. He was looked upon as one of 
the bright, particular stars of the Populist party, and was a 
personal and loyal friend of Mr.. Bryan. Mr. Grafton was 
very proud of his friendship and highly gratified at the 
attentions he paid to his daughter. Notwithstanding 
all this, Mr. Grafton had not overlooked the fact that the 
young officer was poor, and that he depended on his suc- 
cess in politics for his income. While Mr. Grafton’s polit- 
ical philosophy would not allow him to look with any con- 
siderable degree of tolerance on wealth and the power of 
wealth, yet he thought it would be better for Virginia if 
she could marry a man with an assured income. This Mr. 
Moore had; and, after thinking the matter all over care- 
fully, Mr. Grafton had arrived at the fixed conclusion that 
Mr. Moore would make a more desirable husband for his 
daughter than Mr. Spellbinder. To be sure, he had not 
been active in politics and did not stand as high in party 
councils as Mr. Spellbinder; yet he had frequently said 
enough to indicate that his sympathies were with the party 
to which Mr. Grafton belonged. At any rate, he had taken 
enough interest in Mr. Grafton’s political aspirations to 


20 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


vote all the men on his ranch for him for the legislature, 
and had otherwise taken a practical interest in his political 
success. In fact, it had been whispered around that Mr. 
Moore had “ put up.” some money in different parts of the 
county where it could be used to the best advantage in 
securing votes for the Populist ticket. No one saw him 
personally take any part in the canvass, yet it was quite 
well understood that he had an agent at work carrying out 
his plans in the interest of Mr. Grafton. Some of the lat- 
ter’s opponents hinted that the consideration for Mr. 
Moore’s interest in Mr. Grafton was the hand of his 
daughter. It was more than possible, however, that some 
one of Mr. Moore’s envious rivals for the affections of Miss 
Grafton had started the story. Let that be as it may, there 
was something of the mysterious in Mr. Moore’s methods 
as well as in the man himself. More than one had re- 
marked this, and had expressed surprise at the apparent 
intimacy which had sprung up so suddenly between him 
and Mr. Grafton. Virginia had said nothing about it, but 
she had felt this subtle influence of mystery when in the 
presence of Mr. Moore, and had been repelled by it, despite 
an effort on her part to like him because of the interest he 
seemed to take in her father’s welfare. She had no fact 
on which to base this feeling toward him, and she rebelled 
against it, but to no purpose. Whenever and wherever she 
met him this feeling would take possession of her and mar 
the pleasure she would otherwise have taken in his gifted 
conversation. He was a well-traveled and well-read gen- 
tleman, and was most engaging in his manner, much more 
so than any gentleman she had ever met. . But she could 
not bring herself to be perfectly at ease in his presence. 
This subtle something that she could not define influenced 
the sensitive nature of Virginia in such a way as to make 
her really feel insecure in his company when alone with 
him. As has been suggested, it was her habit, however, 


A Story of the Times 


21 


to demand a reason for all of her actions, and as she had 
no basic fact to reason from to explain this feeling of re- 
pugnance, she was unwilling to admit to herself that he was 
wholly out of the question with her. She knew how her 
father felt about it, and she considered it her duty to pay 
more than passing regard to his wish in the matter. She 
had always consulted her father and mother in everything 
involving her welfare, and she had no thought 1 of disregard- 
ing their judgment and wish in this, the greatest concern 
of her life, the selection of a husband. She had not heard 
her mother express herself respecting Mr, Moore as a pros- 
pective son-in-law, although she had heard her speak very 
highly of him, and had noticed what a genuinely motherly 
interest she took in him during his convalescence under 
their roof. 

One day Virginia and her mother sat together engaged 
in sewing, when Mr. Moore entered their presence, holding 
in his hand an illustrated magazine which he had received 
in his mail that day. He held the book out to Virginia, 
and called her attention to the page he had marked. She 
glanced at the page, and to her surprise saw a good half- 
tone likeness of herself. She read the article accompany- 
ing the illustration, and, as she read, it was noted that her 
eyes brightened and a deep, rich color came to her cheeks. 
When she had finished the article she looked up at Mr. 
Moore and said: 

“ This is indeed, undeserved praise, and notoriety I 
hardly relish. I have no doubt of the good intention of 
the writer, but it seems to me an unwarranted intrusion 
into one’s private life to have a picture of one’s self thrust 
before the public gaze. I can hardly imagine how the 
writer secured my photograph from which this half-tone 
was made,” and she looked keenly into Mr. Moore’s face 
as if she was waiting for an explanation. 

He seemed somewhat confused and appeared to be re- 


22 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


volving the matter in his mind with a view to an answer. 
He was for the moment relieved, however, by Mrs. Graf- 
ton’s asking for the magazine, and as she read the article 
it was very evident that she was greatly pleased. Her 
mother’s vanity was tickled, and while the story fell short 
of doing Virginia full credit, yet she felt that it was some- 
thing out of the ordinary for a country girl to have her 
picture in a popular magazine. After reading the article, 
she arose and crossed to where her daughter was sitting, 
placed her arms about her neck, and kissed her most fer- 
vently, saying: 

“ Daughter, you ought to be proud at being the subject 
of such a fine notice as that.” 

“ I suspect,” said Virginia, “ Mr. Moore had something 
to do with the publication of this article. Am I not cor- 
rect, Mr. Moore?” 

“ Well,” he replied, “ I am almost persuaded to say that 
I regret I did have something to do with it. I wrote a full 
account of the storm and the rescue of the children, and 
the fearful losses sustained by our community to a literary 
friend who put it in proper form for a magazine article.” 

“ But how did he get my photograph?” asked Virginia. 

“ I might as well confess, I suppose, Miss Grafton,” re- 
plied Mr. Moore. “ My friend, after reading my letter, 
wrote me that he would be greatly pleased if I could tell 
him where he could obtain a photograph of you, and I gave 
him the name of the artist who made a photograph of you 
in Lincoln last winter when you were there with your father 
and mother during the term of the legislature; and I de- 
rived my information on that subject from the family album 
which occupies a place on the table in the front room. I 
feel that I made a mistake in not asking your consent to do 
this, and all that seems possible now for me to do to show 
my regret is to beg your pardon, which I do most sin- 


A Story of the Times 


23 


cerely.” He said this in a pleading sort of way, and with 
a real or well-simulated expression of anxiety on his face. 

Virginia sat silent for a moment, as if at a loss to know 
what answer to make. With some animation, however, 
she replied: 

“ It* was perhaps pardonable in you to furnish in an indi- 
rect way the story, but I cannot see my way to any possible 
excuse for your act in furnishing my photograph for pub- 
lication without my consent. Nevertheless, we can find no 
pleasure or profit in pursuing the subject further.” 

Mr. Moore was disappointed. He had believed that Vir- 
ginia would be pleased with the article, but in this he Was 
mistaken. He had failed to understand the character of 
this country school teacher. He had judged her by a 
standard that fell far below her class, a standard which 
answers well enough in society generally, but which must 
not be relied on in measuring women of the delicate sensi- 
bilities and modesty and high dignity of Miss Grafton. She 
could not descend to the level of the society woman who 
works every scheme to get her picture into the newspapers 
and magazines, even if money has to be used lavishly to 
accomplish it. 

Mr. Moore, realizing that he had made a mess of it, arose 
and excused himself and went to his room. 

Mrs. Grafton was pained at what had occurred. She 
realized that Virginia had sent a dart into the vitals of their 
guest, and she ventured to observe that she did not think 
Mr. Moore deserved such a severe rebuke. 

“ My dear mother,” cried Virginia, “ I feel keenly this 
humiliation. The very idea of Mr. Moore or anyone else 
outside of our family, presuming to use my photograph 
to illustrate a magazine article without our consent! It is 
simply an unpardonable intrusion into the privacy of one’s 
life,.” 

“ But, dearest,” said her mother, “ you must know that 


24 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


the whole country is interested in you on account of your 
heroic conduct in saving your scholars from ‘being frozen to 
death, and Mr. Moore thought he was actually performing 
a public service, as well as complimenting you by what 
he did.” 

“ I rather think my act is greatly overestimated, and, so 
far as I am concerned, I crave no such compliment,” re- 
plied the modest but high-spirited girl. 

“ Well, my dearest, let us drop the subject right where it 
is. I see you are greatly wrought up on account of it, and 
what has been done cannot now be undone; so let it go.” 

“ Certainly, mother, it cannot be undone, yet I must in- 
sist that I was right in letting Mr. Moore know just how I 
felt about it.” 

Mr. Grafton entered the room at this moment and his 
wife called his attention to the magazine article. When he 
saw his daughter’s picture he gave an exclamation of joyful 
surprise and kissed it. He was greatly pleased with the 
notice concerning Virginia, and said it was just splendid. 
When he learned that Mr. Moore was partly responsible 
fo'r it, without saying a word to his wife and daughter, he 
hurried to that gentleman’s room, and, in his excitement, 
entered without knocking. 

“ Why, Moore,” he exclaimed, “ this article will be a help 
to me in my race for lieutenant-gov’ner. Hundreds of 
honest farmers will vote for me, after reading this article, 
because I’m the father of such a girl. The article and pic- 
ture will appear on the ‘ patent side ’ of every weekly paper 
in the State. I tell you, Moore, it’s a boomer, and I’m 
greatly indebted to you for it.” 

“ But,” replied Moore, “ Virginia doesn’t like it a bit; and 
has just now scored me to the quick for what little I did in 
connection with the publication.” 

“ You don’t mean it,” said Mr. Grafton in a changed tone 
of voice. 


A St®ry of the Times 


25 


“Yes, I do mean it,” answered Mr. Moore, “but please 
don’t understand me as finding fault with your lovely and 
sensitive daughter for anything she has said. I presume I 
was imprudent and I’m very sorry for it.” 

“ Never mind, Moore, I’ll fix that all right with Vir- 
ginia. She doesn’t understand what a boost it will give me 
throughout the State politically. When she does she will 
be as tickled as I am over it.” 

It was quite evident that Mr. Grafton had not learned the 
real depths of his daughter’s nobility of character. He had 
brought her up ; had watched with pride the development of 
her mind, and had discerned, in a way, the growth of the 
charms which had begun to distinguish her womanhood, 
but he had not yet fully comprehended her. 


26 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


CHAPTER III. 

A Letter from Mr. Spellbinder. 

Mr. Grafton had handed a number of letters to his 
daughter when he came in and had his attention diverted 
by the magazine article. On returning to the room he 
fouhd her much interested in one of them which was from 
Mr. Spellbinder. He wrote that he had just read the mag- 
azine article and had enjoyed gazing upon the beautiful 
half-tone illustration, and that he could not delay writing 
her a letter of congratulation. He also informed her that 
he would soon make a visit to the Grafton ranch. After 
reading the letter she handed it to her father, whose face 
fairly glowed with animation as he read it. 

“ That’s just what I told Moore,” exclaimed Mr. Grafton, 

“ Spellbinder sees it just as I do. That article will make 
me lieutenant-gov’ner, I’ll bet a horse on it.” 

“ What queer twists politicians give to things,” observed 
Virginia. 

“ You don’t call me a politician, do you? ” quickly replied 
her father. 

“ No, my dear father, not if it’s offensive to you; yet, you 
must admit that you talk politics a good deal, and that you 
have been holding offices of different kinds ever since the 
Populists got control of them ; and you held several offices ’ 
before you changed from being a straight Democrat. And 
really I don’t see any harm in being interested in politics, 
do you? ” 

“ But, I’m no politician, that I’ll vow,” he answered. “ I 
am a plain farmer, and what part I take in politics is to 
down the rascally Republicans, and to keep them out of 


A Story of the Times 


27 


office. I’ll stay in politics, and hold office, if it’s necessary, 
to help the common people defepd themselves against the 
Republican rascals.” 

“ But, surely papa, you don’t mean to say that all Repub- 
licans are rascals, do you?” 

“ No, not exactly that,” he said, “ but every rascal is a Re- 
publican.” At which he gave a self-satisfie-d pucker to his 
lips as if he had said something quite original, and severe 
on the Republicans. 

At this point he took out of his pocket and handed to his 
daughter a letter from New Jersey, which he seemed to 
have forgotten in his exhilaration over the magazine ar- 
ticle. It was from Mr, Van Kirk, who informed them that 
he would start for the West within a few days, with the in- 
tention of availing himself of the pleasure made possible to 
him by their invitation for him to visit them. 

Mrs. Grafton was a little flurried over the news but said 
she was glad that he was coming, for she wished to thank 
him in person for his kindly words of Virginia and the 
beautiful present he had sent her. Mr. Grafton said noth- 
ing, but kept his eyes fixed on the face of his daughter, 
as if he already suspected that she was indulging a romantic 
interest for the New Jerseyan, 

Virginia gave no sign by word or facial expression that 
she was glad or otherwise; so her father’s penetrating gaze 
detected nothing in her face indicating that she was 
specially interested in the announcement. Could he have 
looked deeper and seen the emotions excited in her heart 
by the. letter, he would probably have been less satisfied 
with what he saw. 

The truth is, her feelings were those of mingled gladness 
and regret. She was glad he was coming, because they had 
invited him and it would give them an opportunity to show 
the consideration due him under the circumstances ; and she 
was regretful because of the uncertainties connecting her 


28 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


with this young man of wealth and high social position who 
had been very frank, and— it must be admitted — manly, in 
his declarations toward her. 

At supper the coming of Mr. Van Kirk was referred to, 
and it was quickly noticed by Virginia that Mr. Moore col- 
ored a little, and that he made no reference to the expected 
event. This was not noticed by either Mr. or Mrs. Graf- 
ton, yet somehow or other it made a very deep impression 
on Virginia’s mind. She could not quite explain why it was 
so, yet there flashed through her mind some remarks Mr. 
Moore had made at one time respecting the watch and 
chain Mr. Van Kirk had sent her, and certain little ques- 
tions he had asked about the giver. The interest he had 
shown was well guarded, however, and the effect made on 
the mind of Virginia by what he said was not so much in 
the words spoken as in the manner of their delivery and 
the play of certain nerves in his face. This latter was 
hardly noticeable to the superficial observer, but to the 
keen and analytical eye of Virginia, this occult play of his 
countenance was full of significance, which, once rightly 
interpreted, would always prove disastrous to his attempt 
at deception. She was thoroughly convinced in her heart 
that Mr. Moore hated Mr. Van Kirk, and that he abhorred 
the very thought of that gentleman’s coming to the Grafton 
ranch. This consciousness made Virginia uneasy, and by 
no means tended to elevate Mr. Moore in her estimation. 
In fact it really belittled him, and intensified the mystery in 
which he always appeared to Virginia. There was more 
than this in her feelings. There came over her a sense of 
fear that through Mr. Moore’s power, in some way, harm 
would come to her expected visitor. She tried to dismiss 
this thought from her mind on the ground that it was un- 
reasonable, but she could not rid herself of it. 


A Story of the Times 


29 


CHAPTER IV. 

A Meeting of the Populist County Central 
Committee. 

Mr. Grafton was chairman of the Populist County Cen- 
tral Committee, and had called a meeting- of the Committee 
at the county seat. When he arrived there he was de- 
lighted to meet, among other stanch workers in the popu- 
listic reform movement, Mr. Spellbinder, who was making 
a tour of the State in the interest of party organization. 
His special mission on this trip was to arrange for a thor- 
ough distribution of a pamphlet printed in German, and 
made up principally of strong passages from the speech of 
Hon. Carl Schurz against Imperialism. The plan was to 
have a copy of this pamphlet put into the hands of every 
German reader in the State. ’ To accomplish this effectually 
it was proposed to place enough copies with each county 
central committee to enable the township committees to 
put one into the hands of every German secretly. It was 
confidently believed that if this pamphlet could be thus dis- 
tributed, the Germans, having so much admiration for and 
confidence in Mr. Schurz, would quietly make up their 
minds to follow his advice and vote against the Republi- 
cans. The anti-imperialist argument was summed up in 
the pamphlet in a very direct and simple way by saying that 
imperialism necessarily meant a large standing army; that 
a large standing army meant increased taxation — possibly 
a doubling of the taxes — and, ultimately, the destruction of 
personal liberty. It was contended that if the Germans 
could be made to believe this they would slump over to the 


30 ' The Homesteader’s Daughter 

side of the Populists and it would carry the State for Bryan, 
and, possibly, elect a fusion legislature, which would send 
one Democrat and one Populist to the United States Sen- 
ate. It was a right clever idea, and it was Mr. Spellbinder’s 
business to meet all of the county committees to effect 
through them the distribution of this anti-imperialistic lit- 
erature. 

The Committee met and each township was well repre- 
sented. The interest manifested by the delegates was all 
that the enthusiastic chairman could have wished. It was 
soon apparent, however, in the meeting that there was a 
great diversity of opinion among the committeemen on the 
plan of campaign to be adopted. They were unanimous 
about the plan proposed by Mr. Spellbinder and others for 
the distribution of the Schurz speech to catch the “ Dutch 
vote,” as they designated the Germans, but they soon got 
into quite a spirited wrangle over other questions which 
were brought to the attention of the Committee by remarks 
made by Mr. Spellbinder. This gentleman was invited to 
address the Committee, which he was very glad to do, and 
in the course of his remarks he said that, there never had 
been a time when there was greater need of the opponents 
of the Republican party to stand together; that the battle 
before them was a harder one than was fought in 1896; that 
the conditions had changed a great deal since then, espe- 
cially as regarded the prosperity of the State and of the 
whole country, and the change was not favorable to the 
Populist party; that the farmers had good crops and were 
getting good prices for whatever they had to sell; that 
every one desiring work could get it at good wages; that 
mortgages, which were oppressing the farmers in ’96, were 
being paid off by wholesale, and that few new ones were 
being recorded; that the incentive to want cheap silver dol- 
lars was not so prevalent nor so strong as it was four years 
ago, for the reason that most of the debtors of the country 


A Story of the Times 31 

had become creditors; that the farmers who were anxious 
to borrow money a few years ago and pay a high rate of 
interest for it were now actually lending money at the low 
rate bf five and six per cent per annum, and finding little 
demand for it at that low rate of interest. 

“We have got to meet all this, gentlemen,” exclaimed 
the orator, “ and there is one other thing we have got to 
think about and fix up an argument to meet, and that is the 
talk that Republicans throw in our teeth about the prophe- 
cies made by Mr. Bryan and our speakers in 1896,. You 
all remember what was said by our speakers, who declared 
emphatically that, if the Republican party was successful in 
electing its candidate for President; it would increase the 
purchasing power of the gold dollar, and make the prices 
on everything the. fartners had to sell fall as a stone falls 
when it is thrown into the air; that the debts of the people 
would be increased and their power to pay them be lessened; 
that it would make times harder and harder, would starve 
everybody except the money-changers and the money-own- 
ers, make the rich richer and the poor poorer ; that it would 
increase the number of idle men; that it would decrease the 
volume of standard money, and encourage the hoarding of 
money; that it would make it more and more difficult for 
the farmer to live, make employment less certain, discour- 
age enterprise, and paralyze industry; that it would compel 
depositors in savings banks to draw their deposits to pay 
living expenses, and make it impossible to pay off the mort- 
gages, that it would make it necessary to advocate the clos- 
ing of the public schools ; that it would make it more profit- 
able to loan money than to invest it in enterprises or prop- 
erty; that it would make dearer money, cheaper property, 
harder times, more people out of work, more people desti- 
tute, and all that, and we all know that none of these things 
have come about. In fact, all these prophecies and predic- 
tions about the evils that would befall the country if the 


32 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


gold standard was adopted have entirely failed; and now 
the Republicans are throwing it up to us and it is about the 
worst thing we have to meet in this campaign. I thought 
at the time it was foolish to make them, but Mr. Bryan 
was the peerless leader, as he is to-day, and he sets the 
pace for us all; but we all know now that it was short- 
sighted for us to put our fingers in the trap by going into 
the prophesying business. We told the farmers that if 
silver was voted down the price of wheat would go down — 
that wheat and silver went up and down together ; but, noth- 
ing of the kind has happened, and a good many farmers 
say: ‘ You fooled us in 1896 and we have’nt got much confi- 
dence in what you say now about the terrible calamities that 
will come on the country on account of trusts and imperial- 
ism.’ But we have got to keep up this .cry against trusts 
for that is about the only thing that we have got to talk 
about in this campaign. We used to make a better show- 
ing when we talked about the tariff, and the ‘ robber bar- 
ons,’ but that issue is dead now, and so is the silver ques- 
tion, and whenever we drag these corpses out before the 
people they turn up their noses as if they smelled something 
bad— ” « 

Here the orator from Lincoln was interrupted by the 
chairman of the committee, who remarked with some ani- 
mation that “ It wouldn’t do to talk that way and let it get 
to the ears of the Republicans or they would make it lively 
for us around here. Besides I don’t agree altogether with 
the gentleman. For my part I think that we’d better talk 
free silver just as we did four years ago; and I think we 
ought to give it to them hot on trusts.” 

“ Well,” resumed the interrupted speaker, “ it won’t do 
for us to get into an argument among ourselves over these 
questions; for, what we want, and what we must have to 
win this year, is harmony. But we should understand that 
while Mr. Bryan still holds for free silver at 16 to 1, the 


A Story of the Times 


33 


committee on resolutions of the Kansas City Convention, 
which nominated him, came within one vote of turning it 
down and leaving it out of the platform. I think now it 
ought not to be forced to the front. The farmers of the 
West have’nt any silver mines or any bullion, and what 
interest have they got in free silver? Why! even the people 
of Colorado, where silver mines are supposed to be the 
best, have nearly lost their interest in the free silver ques- 
tion, for they say that they are making more money out of 
mining gold, and times are better there now than they ever 
were before, notwithstanding that Senator Teller said the 
gold standard ruined his State. It seems to have had just 
the opposite effect. I mention these things simply to call 
your attention to the fact that we have got a mighty hard 
row to hoe this year, and that we have got to stand to- 
gether and whoop it up on trusts, imperialism and mili- 
tarism. This is the red hot stuff for this campaign. We 
have got to tell the people that the silver question will keep 
until we have saved the country by settling the question of 
imperialism and killing off the trusts, and then we’ll take up 
the silver question and settle that.” 

“Yes, that’s all very good,” said one of the committee- 
men; “but just now you were blaming Mr. Bryan for 
prophesying about silver and wheat going up and down 
together, and so on, and that none of these prophecies have 
come true — now you propose to have us prophesy that the 
country will go to the devil if the Republicans win, because 
they are in favor of expansion and militarism. Now, sup- 
pose none of our predictions about these things come true, 
what kind of a hole will we be in four years from now when 
we come before the people again? I think we had better 
keep out of the prophesying business altogether.” 

Several of the committeemen spoke up at once, and said 
that they thought this was about right, and that they had 


34 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


better pitch into the trusts tooth and nail, and “ lay low ” 
on the other things. 

One committeeman thought that it would be the best 
thing not to say much about anything except imperialism, 
which would scare the Germans into voting against the 
Republicans. He said, “ W e can make ’em believe that the 
Republicans are going to increase the army and make it so 
big that it will double their taxes, and in time crush them 
down and make them as bad off as they were in Germany 
before they came to America. If we can do this we can 
carry several of the States in the West where the Germans 
are pretty thick.” 

“ But, then,” said another, “ the army is as big now as it 
will be, unless we raise more troops to help punish ‘ the 
heathen Chinee’ for murdering our people; and I’ll be 
blamed if my taxes have been increased very much so far, 
and I don’t believe anybody else’s have. How are you 
going to make anybody believe — even a stupid Dutchman 
— that his taxes will be doubled, when the army has already 
been increased nearly three times its size without increas- 
ing anybody’s taxes perceptibly? I don’t think we will be 
able to fool very many of the Dutch with that kind of an 
argument. My idea is we’ve got to stir up the people on 
the subject of trusts.” 

“ But,” said another, “ what are you going to say about 
trusts that will take hold of the voters? ” 

“ Why,” interposed Mr. Spellbinder, “ tell the people that 
the trusts will eat the very life out of the nation if they are 
not put down.” 

“ I don’t see much ih this anti-trust argument, so far as 
the farmers are concerned,” said another. “ I don’t see that 
any trust has ever hurt me. I buy agricultural implements 
and everything I use oft my ranch cheaper than I ever did 
before. There is a good deal of talk against the Standard 
Oil Company, but I recollect when I used to pay thirty-five 


A Story of the Times 35 

cents a gallon for poor coal oil before this Standard Oil 
Company 'got hold of all the oil wells, and now I get good 
oil for eight cents a gallon. When it comes right down to 
the point it seems to me that the trusts have made things 
cheaper, than any other way.” 

Chairman Grafton had become quite uneasy on account 
of the way the talk had drifted, and he suggested that, while 
it was well enough for them to give expression to their 
ideas about things, yet he didn’t think that it was quite the 
thing to take up all the time of the meeting in that way. 
He thought they had better get down to business. 

After some talk about organization, and the best way to 
put Mr. Schurz’s speech into the hands of the Germans, the 
committee adjourned. 


36 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


CHAPTER V. 

Mr. Spellbinder visits the Graftons. 

Mr,. Spellbinder informed Mr. Grafton that he had ar- 
ranged his itinerary so as to go out to the latter’s ranch to 
visit for a day. Mr. Grafton expressed unfeigned pleasure 
at this, and as soon as he had made a few purchases and 
attended to a little business they started for the ranch. On 
their way out they talked a good deal about the prospects of 
the Fusion party in the coming national election, but 
neither seemed to be particularly enthusiastic over the 
situation. 

When they arrived at the ranch Mr. Spellbinder was 
received with marked consideration and cordiality by Mrs. 
Grafton and her daughter. He was regarded by them as 
a very distinguished guest, probably the most distinguished 
of any who had ever been entertained at the Grafton home. 
Pie met them with unusual warmth, as if he felt that they 
must be highly gratified at having a State officer for their 
guest; in fact, Virginia thought he was a trifle patronizing, 
which she did not like but did not allow it to influence 
her in her manner toward him. 

Mr. Grafton called Mr. Moore into the room where Mr. 
Spellbinder was airing his eloquence to the ladies, and de- 
clared that he was anxious to have the two gentlemen meet. 
He introduced them, remarking to Mr,. Spellbinder that 
Mr. Moore was his neighbor and a stanch friend; that he 
had rendered him very valuable service when he ran for 
the legislature, and that he hoped to see Mr. Moore take 
a high place in the councils of the Fusion party at an early 
day. To indicate to Mr. Moore the importance of Mr. 


A Story of the Times 


37 


Spellbinder, he remarked to the former that the latter was 
one of the most eloquent speakers in the Populist party 
and a personal friend of Mr. Bryan. 

The two gentlemen expressed mutual satisfaction at the 
meeting; but it was noticed by the keen eyes of Virginia 
that Mr. Spellbinder availed himself of the opportunity to 
scrutinize the face of Mr. Moore every time the latter’s 
attention was attracted away from him. She observed this 
particularly at supper, at which the two gentlemen sat oppo- 
site each other with Virginia occupying a position from 
which she could observe the faces of those gentlemen with- 
out appearing too much interested. She came to the con- 
clusion that Mr. Spellbinder fancied he had met Mr. Moore 
somewhere before and was trying to recall the time and 
place. 

Supper was one of Mrs. Grafton’s best meals; and this 
fact, together with the appetite of Mr. Spellbinder, which 
had been whetted to a keen edge by the ride over the prairie, 
made that gentleman relish the meal to an unusual degree. 
He remarked that, if her supper was a sample of the living 
enjoyed by the homesteaders, they were certainly to be 
envied, especially by bachelors who were compelled to put 
up with the average boarding-house fare. Mrs. Grafton 
acknowledged the compliment; and her husband, who was 
proud of the success of his efforts to make a comfortable 
home on the western prairie, remarked: 

“ We are thankful to have plenty to eat and wear, but 
I’ll tell you we’ve had to work for it — Mrs. Grafton and I, 
and I must not leave out Virginia, for she, too, has helped 
to work out our success.” 

“ Please do not give me any credit, father, for surely I 
have done little or nothing towards your success,” inter- 
posed Virginia. 

“ Yes, you have, my daughter, yes, you have,” answered 
Mr. Grafton. “ I am not ashamed to tell what you have 


38 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

done. I don’t know what I would have done during the 
long drought, without any cash to pay taxes and interest 
with, if it hadn’t been for the money you earned teaching 
school and generously turned over to me.” 

f ‘ Oh, please say nothing about that, papa,” said Vir- 
ginia, the color in her face heightening somewhat, “ I sim- 
ply performed a very pleasant duty.” 

“ Yes, but it isn’t every daughter who thinks that way,’ 
replied Mr. Grafton. 

Mr. Spellbinder and Mr. Moore had both turned their 
eyes upon the young lady in evident admiration, which had 
the effect of increasing her embarrassment. Mr. Spell- 
, binder noticed this and sought to turn the subject of the 
conversation by referring to the recent blizzard in which 
Virginia had so distinguished herself; but Mr. Grafton had 
his piece to speak and was not to be diverted from his pro- 
gram. He was very proud of his success as a farmer, and 
it was one of his weaknesses to tell the story of how he had 
begun with nothing and worked out a reasonable success 
in life on the border. Without encouraging further refer- 
ence to his daughter’s heroic achievement, he said: 

“You don’t know what we homesteaders had to over- 
come in opening up this prairie country. You are new- 
comers here — -kind of ‘ tenderfeet,’ as it were — and don’t 
realize fully the hardships which every old settler in these 
parts has endured. I took up this homestead twenty-eight 
years ago, and when I located here and built a sod house 
there wasn’t a human habitation that could be seen with 
the naked eye. We came here in a ‘ prairie schooner ’ — a 
big covered wagon, in other words — hauled by a pair of 
piares, and all I had in the world was my brave wife to en- 
courage me; and between us we had some furniture, a cook 
stove, a few groceries, a box of side-meat, five sacks of 
flour, some shelled corn, potatoes and beans, a lot of gar- 
den-seed, a breaking and stirring plow, and a corn-plow, 


A Story of the Times 


39 


some nails, two window-sash, glazed, some boards, a coop 
of hens and a rooster, a boar and a sow, a cow and a heifer, 
and about fifty dollars in money. I took up a homestead 
of a hundred and sixty acres of good land, and afterward a 
timber claim, which made three hundred and twenty acres 
in the farm. The first year I built a house of sod, of two 
rooms, a stable for the horses, a cow stable, a pig and hen- 
house, all of sod, and broke up twenty acres of land. I 
subsoiled five acres and planted it with potatoes, beans, cab- 
bages, peas, and garden truck. I planted the remaining 
fifteen acres to sod-corn, buckwheat and turnips. The 
first year’s crops were all I could have desired and a great 
deal more than I expected. I assure you I was as happy 
a man as anybody ever saw or heard of when fall came 
and I had plenty for myself and wife to live on and to sub- 
sist the stock for another year; but I worked day and night 
to do it, that is, my wife and I did.” 

“ How did you build the houses with sod, Mr. Grafton? ” 
asked Mr. Spellbinder. 

“ Well, I plowed up a half acre of sod of uniform thick- 
ness, and cut it into even lengths of about fourteen inches. 
I laid out the house by smoothing away and -leveling the 
surface of the ground. I then laid the sods carefully the 
same as if they had been bricks of like size, only no mortar 
was used,. I left window and door openings and placed 
in them rude frames made of the lumber I brought with me. 
When the walls were high enough to receive the roof, I 
made rafters of poles which I had cut and hauled from the 
Loup River six miles away. On these rafters I laid two 
thicknesses of tough sod, overlapping each other, so as to 
shed water. I took the clay which I had thrown up when 
I dug a well and made mortar out of it. With this I plas- 
tered the rooms and made the walls hard and smooth. I 
also used clay in making a floor to the dwelling, which I 


40 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


was able to make very solid by tamping. I made a chim- 
ney of sod and clay, and the job was done. Mrs. Grafton 
used a sheet for a ceiling over the bed and the table which 
I had made of boards. She made the house bright and 
cozy with a new rag carpet which she had woven with her 
own hands and brought from our old home in Missouri. 
The outbuildings were made in the same way, only they 
were not plastered. These houses were warm in winter 
and cool in summer; and we came to be so strongly at- 
tached to this our first home after we were married, that it 
was with considerable regret we gave it up to occupy the 
frame house we afterwards built, and which is a part of the 
house in which you are now sitting at table. The first year 
I cut large quantities of prairie grass for hay, in fact, put up 
enough hay that fall to last me nearly three years. That 
first year was a very happy one for Mrs. Grafton and me. 
We were as contented and happy a pair as ever spent a 
honeymoon.” 

“How interesting!” exclaimed Mr. Spellbinder. 

“ But the next year,” continued Mr. Grafton, “ was a 
very different one — it was by no means a continuation of 
the dream. The second year I plowed up the break- 
ing and harrowed the ground as fine and as smooth as any 
garden, and got my seeds all planted in good time. The 
seeds came up and the prospects were as bright and as 
cheering as any farmer ever had. One beautiful day as I 
was going out to turn over some more sod for the next 
year’s crop, I noticed that the sun was suddenly darkened 
as if by a cloud. This darkness continued so long that I 
looked up toward the sun to see the cause of it, when, to 
my amazement, I discovered that it was obscured by 
millions of some kind of insect flying not more than two 
hundred feet above the ground. It was one black mass 
of fluttering insect life, so long and wide that the eye 


A Story of the Times 


4i 


could not see the limits of it. Within a short time the 
insects began to fall to the ground like raindrops which 
precede a downpour,. These were only forerunners — 
prospectors, as it were — for within a half-hour enough of 
the insects had alighted to cover the ground literally, and 
in some places they were crawling over each other an inch 
thick. They proved to be the Rocky Mountain grass- 
hopper or locust. When the sun rose the next morning 
not a grasshopper was to be seen; and the field, green with 
vegetation the day before, was as barren as it was when I 
got through harrowing it.” 

“ That was discouraging enough,” observed Mr. Spell- 
binder. 

“ Yes, that was bad enough, but it was not as bad as 
what followed,” replied Mr. Grafton. “ We had enough 
of some things grown the previous year to run us through 
the winter by exercising rigid economy. In addition to 
this I raised some sod-corn and some turnips, planted after 
the grasshoppers had gone. The wild grass crop was good, 
for the grasshoppers did not disturb that, so we had abund- 
ance of hay for the stock. The next year the hoppers came 
again and staid all summer, and laid their eggs. They 
kept the fields bare all the season, and were so thick every- 
where that one could not step without crushing a number 
of them. The next year, when the eggs had hatched, the 
little hoppers proved more destructive to the crops than 
had the old ones which fell from the clouds. By the time 
they were large enough to fly they had eaten everything 
they could eat, and when they left us it was too late to 
plant any kind of seed with any prospect of a crop. So 
we were left in a very destitute condition. We had noth- 
ing to feed our hogs, and the horses and cattle were com- 
pelled to subsist upon hay. A great many of the settlers 
left the country, declaring that they would never come 


42 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

back, and that anybody who wanted their improvements 
could have them. We stuck it out by the help of contri- 
butions received from friends in Missouri, and from relief 
committees who solicited and forwarded food and clothing 
to the grasshopper-stricken portion of the State. The rail- 
roads hauled these things gratis, and also brought coal in 
from their own mines in Wyoming, which they distributed 
free to the impoverished settlers who had the courage to 
stay on their claims.” 

“ That was a very trying experience, I must say,” ob- 
served Mr. Spellbinder, “ and forms a very interesting 
chapter in the State’s history.” 

“Yes,” said Mr. Moore, “I think as much myself, but 
I am glad the State got through the grasshopper experi- 
ence before I made my advent.” 

“ There is one thing in your story, Mr. Grafton, that 
rather astonishes me,” said Mr. Spellbinder,. “ I was 
hardly prepared to hear you say that the railroads hauled 
anything for nothing or made any contributions for the 
relief of the settlers.” 

“ It is a little surprising after all you have heard against 
the railroads, but they did even more than that : they 
made a contribution of money to help the destitute settlers.” 

“ That was certainly generous, wasn’t it? ” remarked Mr. 
Moore. 

“ I don’t know about that,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ they 
did it out of selfish motives, for if the settlers had all left 
the State it would have been a terrible backset to the rail- 
road companies. They had millions of acres of land which 
had been given them as a subsidy by the Government, and 
these would have become valueless, at least for a great 
many years, if the country had been entirely abandoned. 
As it was, the country was set back at least ten years. For 
one I always felt grateful to the railroads, but never allowed 


A Story of the Times 


43 


them to put a brass collar with their brand on it around 
my neck in politics. Most of us old settlers have been 
against the railroads in the State politics. We joined the 
anti-monopoly party when it started, and then went into 
the Alliance, and from that into the Populist party. A 
good many of us had always been Democrats, and it was 
easier for us to work with these parties than with the ras- 
cally Republicans. The Populist party was developed in 
this way: — The old greenbackers and men who hadn’t been 
well treated in the old parties, and the temperance agitators 
and the fellows who had proved up on their homesteads 
and mortgaged them and were hanging on by the skin of 
their teeth, and the anti-Union Pacific fellows, were kind-of 
brought together by the grasshoppers and the drought, and 
we now have a pretty strong party.” 

At this last remark all laughed heartily. Mr. Spellbinder 
observed that it had never occurred to him that the fusion 
in the State included grasshoppers and drought; but it 
seemed quite plain to him now, after what Mr. Grafton had 
told them, that Providence really had something to do 
with the organization of the fusion movement. 

Mr. Moore, who had been a quiet listener up to this 
point, or nearly so, spoke up with sudden animation, prob- 
ably encpuraged to do so by the apparent disapproval of 
Virginia of the remark of Mr. Spellbinder in connecting 
Providence with politics — a conclusion he reached,, not 
from anything she had said, but from an involuntary shake 
of her head and the expression of her countenance, which, 
with her, soqietimes meant a great deal more than words — 
and said: 

“ I doubt very much the correctness of the suggestion 
that Providence takes any part in political strife. I can 
hardly bring myself to the conclusion that Providence 
would send scourges upon women and children in order to 


44 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


promote the ends of any political party. I have always 
been a Democrat, and I am in favor of downing the Repub- 
lican party, but I fail to see the necessity of dragging 
Providence into the cesspool of politics in order to accom- 
plish that end.” 

This rather pleased Virginia, who said: 

“I agree with Mr. Moore entirely; besides, I do not 
believe with papa that everything advocated by the Repub- 
lican party is bad. All the good is not in any one party, 
nor is all the bad in any one party. It seems to me the 
Republican party should be given credit for a good many 
things it has done in the interest of the poor man, or the 
plain people, as the politicians say.” 

“ I would like to know one good thing the Republican 
party has ever done for the common people,” replied Mr, 
Grafton. 

“ I am no politician,” replied Virginia, “ nor do I take 
any special interest in the conflict of parties, but it seems 
to me from what history I have read that when the Repub- 
lican party enacted the homestead law, and the timber-claim 
law, making it possible for the poor man, and woman too, 
for that matter, to acquire good lands to make a home on, it 
was a good thing for the common people. The Democratic 
party, dominated by the slave-drivers of the South, had 
always refused to pass such laws; but as soon as the Repub- 
lican party came into power, about the first thing it did 
was to pass these laws. Besides that, the Republican party 
was in favor of saving the Union, and having but one flag 
for the entire country, and really stood back of Lincoln, as 
against the Democratic party, in all of the war measures 
which resulted in saving the Union and preserving the one 
flag, handed down by the fathers who founded the Union. 
This was certainly in the interest of the common people; 
and it seems to me that when the Republican party struck 


A Story of the Times 


45 


the shackles off of four millions of poor black people, and 
put it in the Constitution that every man, black and white 
and red should have equal rights, it was doing something 
for the common people. And I don’t think the Democratic 
party, at least the bulk of it, which has put in the constitu- 
tions of ten Southern States, and on the statute-books of 
those States, provisions that disfranchise more than half 
of the voters in some of those States because they are poor 
and ignorant and comparatively helpless, can claim to be 
a party devoted to the common people. It seems to me 
also that the Republican party did something for the com- 
mon people when it took such high ground in favor of giv- 
ing liberal pensions to the soldiers and sailors who fought 
for the Union and were wounded or lost their health by 
exposure in the line of duty, and in taking care of their 
widows and orphans. I have always thought that the Re- 
publican party was in favor of doing a great deal for the 
laboring people by favoring laws that kept out of the 
country goods that were made by cheap or pauper labor in 
foreign countries, and thus reserving the manufacture of 
them for our own people; and I am not so sure but that 
the Republican party has done a good thing for the com- 
mon people by preventing the coinage of fifty-cent dollars, 
and instead giving the country gold and paper and silver 
dollars all of equal value. As a matter of fact, I could 
think of a good many other things that the Republican 
party has done for the common people if I would take the 
time. If papa will excuse me for appearing to be personal 
I will say that this splendid ranch that we live on was given 
to him by the operation of a Republican law, and it seems 
to me he ought not to be so bitter toward that party. But 
then I am only a woman and I am not supposed to know 
very much about politics, although I read political history 
just the same as I do any other history.” 


46 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


Mr. Grafton had listened to his daughter’s remarks with 
a good deal of interest, and while he certainly did not agree 
with her, he yet manifested in his countenance paternal 
pride on account of the fact that his daughter could speak 
so well on current political topics. He could not pass over 
what she said in silence, and he replied: 

“ There, you see, gentlemen, I have a rebel in my own 
camp. It looks very much as if my daughter had not 
benefited from her home training, and I think that she 
has been devoting too much time to ‘ ancient history.’ 
What do we care now what the Republican party may 
have done years ago? It is what that party is doing now 
that we are interested in. It is the party of expansion and 
imperialism and favors protection which fosters trusts, and 
is opposed to the free coinage of silver. These are the 
burning issues of the present time, and I commend them 
to my daughter for her careful consideration.” 

f ‘ I don’t pretend to know a great deal about such 
things,” responded Virginia, “ but it seems to me that if 
there had ever been any good reason for the agitation over 
the free coinage of silver, that reason no longer exists, and 
therefore the question is dead. As I understand it, the two 
principal reasons for the agitation are that we didn’t have 
money enough in circulation, and that the gold standard 
made money dearer. These two reasons for free coinage 
of silver no longer exist because we have more money how 
per capita than we ever had, and gold and silver and paper 
money can be borrowed at a lower rate of interest than 
ever was known before in this or any other country. The 
business of the country is good; everything that a farmer 
or manufacturer has to sell brings a good price and is paid 
for in money that is worth one hundred cents on the dollar; 
everybody is paying off his debts, and very few people are 
going into debt; and, so far as imperialism is concerned, 


A Story of the Times 


47 

nobody — Republican or anybody else — is in favor of it, and 
all the parties are in favor of regulating trusts. There is one 
thing I like about the Republican party, and that is that they 
will not allow the flag of the country to be fired on without 
firing back; and when people fire on it and keep firing on it 
the Republican party will neither haul the flag down nor 
run away with it to get it out of the way of the enemy’s 
guns. I don’t think any patriot ought to vote against the 
party on this account. The truth is I would vote against 
any party that is not in favor of upholding the sovereignty 
of the United States.” 

Mr. Spellbinder qnd Mr. Moore both made no effort to 
conceal their admiration for Virginia on account of her 
clear and bold utterances, notwithstanding the fact that 
she was rapping them hard over the knuckles, figuratively 
speaking. The trpth was that Moore, who was not a poli- 
tician, was tickled away down in his boots at the way Vir- 
ginia ripped Mr. Spellbinder up his political back. Moore 
had never taken any interest in politics of any kind until 
he had become acquainted with Virginia, and found that 
in order to make any headway in paying court to her it was 
necessary for him to appear to take an interest in and to 
agree with her father. He was a close-mouthed man, and 
very few persons learned from him anything respecting his 
business affairs or his political views. Mr. Grafton had 
told around that Moore was all right politically, and on this 
account he had been classed with the Populists. v 

After supper the gentlemen adjourned to Mr. Moore’s 
room, where they indulged in smoking some of his 
imported cigars. Mr. Spellbinder referred to the lingering 
effects of Mr. Moore’s bitter experience in the blizzard and 
said: 

“You must have had a pretty severe experience in your 
battle with the blizzard the night you made the attempt 
to assist Miss Grafton in rescuing her school.” 


4 8 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


“ Yes,” replied Mr, Moore, “ I did have a pretty severe 
tussle with the storm. I was lucky though in stumbling up 
against the cow-shed on the Browning ranch. Just how 
I got into the stable and what happened after I got in, I 
don’t recollect. A part of the experience is very blank to 
me, but I was fortunate in falling into the hands of the 
Graftons after I was found. No one was ever nursed more 
carefully and kindly than I have been by them, and I owe a 
debt of gratitude to them that I shall never be able to pay. 

“ It was a close call,” said Mr. Spellbinder. 

“ Yes,” replied Mr. Moore, “ as close as I ever had, and 
I have had some pretty narrow escapes with my life. I 
owe my life in this case to Miss Virginia.” 

“You owe your life to Miss Grafton?” exclaimed Mr, 
Spellbinder. “ She must have been an all-round heroine 
in that storm. The papers were full of her heroism in sav- 
ing the school, but I did not read anything of her services 
to you.” 

Mr. Moore briefly told how she had bravely rallied to his 
relief when he was found nearly dead in the stable, and 
was very eloquent in his praise of her. 

Mr. Spellbinder joined him in his estimate of Virginia, 
but a careful scrutiny of his face would have disclosed the 
fact that he was not particularly well pleased with the 
thought that the blizzard had brought Moore and Miss 
Grafton into such friendly relations with each other. He 
had made up his mind to become an avowed suitor for the 
hand of Virginia, and this new difficulty in his way aroused 
in him a feeling of resentment, especially since it had be- 
come apparent that Mr. Moore was really in love with Vir- 
ginia. Just how far he had gone in his love-making 
was a question in the mind of Spellbinder which he would 
have given anything in his power to have answered. He 
made a mental resolve then and there that he would lose no 


A Story of the Times 


49 


time in pressing his suit upon Virginia. He was ready to 
hate any man who dared to place himself in a position to 
be suspected even of loving Virginia. The truth was that 
the two men looked upon each other as rivals, and hated 
each other accordingly. 

The conversation between Mr. Spellbinder and Mr. 
Moore turned on the business outlook of the country in 
which the latter took a keen interest. Mr. Spellbinder 
said: 

“ You have quite a large ranch, I understand, and a good 
deal of stock.’’ 

“ Yes, I have a pretty good-sized ranch,” answered Mr. 
Moore, “ fairly well stocked for this part of the country, 
but of course it would be considered a small affair in Texas 
where ranches are several hundred times larger than mine.” 

“ Stock-raising pays pretty well, doesn’t it? ” asked Mr. 
Spellbinder. 

“ It doesn’t always pay,” replied Moore, “ but during 
the last three years, or perhaps since the boom set in in 
1897, stock-raising has been profitable. Since that time 
stockmen have received the biggest prices ever known since 
the Civil War for whatever they had to sell. The worst 
feature of the times has been that we could not get hands 
to run the ranches without paying them big salaries, and 
even at the wages paid it is hard to get good men to do the 
work. The years referred to have been all that stockmen 
could wish.” 

“ You really think, then, that the last three years have 
been prosperous years? ” asked Mr. Spellbinder. 

“ Most certainly I do,” replied Mr. Moore. “ The figures 
show that. Stockmen, farmers, laborers, manufacturers 
and everbody will attest to the truthfulness of the figures 
which show that for the last three years, from ’97 to 1900, 
the country has had such prosperity as never before. Our 


50 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

imports have been the largest and our exports have been 
the largest ever known, and the balance of trade in our 
favor has been so large that the United States has become 
the creditor nation of the world. Instead of borrowing 
money as a nation from foreign nations we are now lend- 
ing money to them. While we are making internal im- 
provements that astonish the world, and are enlarging our 
Navy so as to make it the equal of that of any nation, we 
are about to expend millions of dollars upon an inter- 
oceanic canal and are carrying on a war at the same time. 
To me it is perfectly amazing, viewed from a business 
standpoint, what prosperity the entire country is enjoying, 
and when you think of it in connection with the fact that 
only six years ago the Government was borrowing money 
at a big rate of interest to meet current expenses, and 
Coxey armies were tramping from one end of the country 
to the other begging for work and bread, and business 
failures were more numerous than they had ever been be- 
fore, and everybody who had mopey was disposed to hide 
it pway, the present prosperous condition becomes more 
and more incomprehensible. 

“ You take a very cheerful, and, it seems to me, exag- 
gerated view of the situation,” said Mr. Spellbinder. 

“ It is not a view nor a theory with me, Mr. Spellbinder,” 
replied Mr. Moore. “When the times are such as to in- 
crease my income two or three hundred per cent I ought to 
be pretty well satisfied with them. It is dollars and cents 
with me. As long as I get good prices for my cattle and 
horses it is not much consequence to me what the poli- 
ticians are saying and doipg.” 

“There is something more than business to be looked 
at,” Mr. Spellbinder replied,, “The Bryan platform is in 
favor of the Declaration of Independence and is against 
imperialism, militarism and trusts. To be sure it also- de- 


A Story of the Times 


5 1 


dares for the free coinage of silver, but the main issue is 
imperialism. We are against imperialism.” 

“ So am I, and so is everybody,” answered Mr. Moore. 
“ This imperialism talk is all rot. There isn’t a man in the 
United States in favor of it; and if he was, everybody 
would consider him a crank, without regard to party. And 
so far as trusts are concerned, everybody is in favor of regu- 
lating them — Republicans, Democrats and Populists alike. 
They have all so declared in their platforms, as I under- 
stand it. As to militarism, every patriot will be in favor of 
having an army large enough to protect our interests at 
home and abroad, and to defend the flag of the country 
against attacks of an enemy no matter where he may be. 
Expansion is a good thing if it makes our country larger 
and stronger, and puts us in a position to make ourselves 
felt as a world power. Certainly no one can deny that we 
are better off because we own Hawaii, Porto Rico and 
Alaska, any more than one can deny that the United States 
is better off for having expanded so as to take in the 
Louisiana Purchase, We have grown to be a great and 
rich nation and can no longer live and prosper within the 
narrow limitations which served the .United States well 
enough fifty years ago. There was a time when a twenty- 
five-acre farm was considered too large for one man to 
manage, but under present conditions you will find farms 
in this broad western country covering thousands of acres 
being successfully managed by one man. The great trouble 
with the anti-expansionists is that they don’t realize that we 
are a nation of nearly eighty millions of people and are 
manufacturing more goods and producing more wheat and 
corn and raising more horses and cattle than any other 
nation on earth. If we want to keep up prices and be 
prosperous as a nation we have got to expand, and open 
doors everywhere for the outlet of what we produce. 1 


52 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


wasn’t particularly proud of the Democratic Convention 
at Kansas City; for, in looking it over, I couldn’t find a sin- 
gle man in it that was at the head of or connected with 
any great business enterprise. While it was a representa- 
tive convention in the sense that it represented agitators 
of all kinds and ward politicians, it seemed to me that it fell 
very much below the Democratic Conventions of twenty- 
five and fifty years ago.” 

Mr. Spellbinder was conscious of being up against a busi- 
ness man, and not the kind of a man his fluency of speech 
would have much effect upon, and he very gracefully ended 
the conversation by saying he was sleepy and thought he 
would better retire to his bed; so bidding Mr. Moore good- 
night, he withdrew. 


A Story of the Times 


53 


CHAPTER VI. 

Mr. Spellbinder Makes Love and Springs a Mystery. 

The next morning, after breakfast, Mr. Spellbinder and 
Mr. Grafton were alone together, looking at some Poll- 
Angus cattle in which the latter took considerable pride and 
which the former didn’t know from the old-fashioned 
“ muley,” although he agreed with Mr. Grafton fully on 
every fine point described by him, and even went so far as 
to take chances on exposing his ignorance by trying to 
enlarge upon Mr. Grafton’s descriptions. At an opportune 
time Mr. Spellbinder shifted the subject from Angus cattle, 
Percheron horses and Berkshire hogs to a subject much 
nearer his heart, namely, his love for Virginia. 

“ I want to have a few words with you, Mr. Grafton, 
about your daughter, if it is agreeable to you,” said Mr. 
Spellbinder. 

“ Certainly, Mr. Spellbinder, it will be agreeable to me,” 
replied Mr. Grafton. 

“The subject is a trifle embarrassing to me,” said Mr. 
Spellbinder, “ but I feel it my duty to tell you that I am 
deeply in love with your daughter, and with your permis- 
sion I shall endeavor to win her consent to be my wife. I 
have loved her ever since you were in Lincoln attending 
the legislature; and while I have not made bold to declare 
my love to her, yet I have at different times endeavored to 
impress her with the idea that I was deeply interested in 
her. Since coming here last evening I have realized more 
and more how deeply my love for her has taken root, and 


54 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


I have determined to ask her for her hand before I take 
my departure, unless you forbid it.” 

“ I feel highly honored, Mr. Spellbinder, by your frank 
statement, and I do not care to put anything in the way of 
your wish toward my daughter; but I’ll be equally frank 
with you by saying that I fear that you are a little too 
late ” ; — and his eye falling upon a fine steer, Mr. Grafton 
immediately changed the subject back to hoofs and horns 
by saying to Mr. Spellbinder that that steer would weigh 
more than three thousand pounds! 

Paying no attention to his sudden descent from the 
sublime to the ridiculous by Mr. Grafton, Mr. Spellbinder 
called him back to the subject in which he was interested 
by asking: 

“ What am I to understand, Mr. Grafton, from what you 
say about my being too late? Is your daughter engaged to 
that man Moore?” 

He asked this question in a voice that indicated a good 
deal of feeling, and the look he gave the Angus steer which 
Mr. Grafton was looking at so intently showed plainly 
enough that he didn’t care a nickel whether the steer 
weighed one pound or three thousand pounds. 

Mr. Grafton turned half around and looked Mr. Spell- 
binder full in the face and answered: 

“ I don’t know whether she is engaged to him or not, but 
I am of the opinion that they understand each other pretty 
well; and from the way the talk drifted at the table last 
night I guess he has a sixteen to one cinch on her. Maybe 
I’m Wrong, though. She hasn’t said as much to me, and 
she always lets her mother and me know her plans. Moore 
is a pretty good man, so far as I know, and he has a big 
ranch and heaps of stock, you know.” 

Mi*. Spellbinder leaiied against the corral fence, looking 
abstractedly at the steers for some time, when he said: 


A Story of the Times 


55 


“ I guess you don’t know this man Moore or you 
wouldn’t have him lying around your house taking advan- 
tage of every opportunity to press his suit upon your lovely 
daughter, who is worthy of a better man than I know 
Moore to be.” 

“What do you know about Moore, that we don’t?” 
asked Mr. Grafton in an excited way. 

“Well, one thing I know that you don’t seem to know, 
judging from what I have heard you say about him, and 
that is that he isn’t with us politically. You seem to think 
he is all right in this respect, but I happen to ki^ow enough 
of him to assert that if he isn’t a spy in the camp he is try- 
ing to fool you for some sinister purpose.” 

“ What is this you are telling me about Mr. Moore? Mr. 
Spellbinder; let’s have all you know,” said Mr. Grafton 
earnestly. 

“ Last night after you left us in Mr. Moore’s room, our 
conversation turned on the business of the country, and 
Moore, under the guise of business, pounded the support- 
ers of Bryan into the earth. He said the fusion movement 
under Bryan was against business prosperity, and that all 
business men and farmers and laborers ought to let well 
enough alone; that prosperity was to be seen everywhere, 
and that the agitation of the silver question, and all this 
talk about expansion and imperialism and trusts, was cal- 
culated to bring on another panic like that we had between 
’93 and ’96. He gave it to us Populists hard, I tell you. 
He said he wasn’t a politician but looked at things from the 
standpoint of a business man. He gave me the hardest 
knocks I have had from anybody this year. Do you think 
that is the kind of man you want for a son-in-law? ” 

He never talked like that to me,” said Mr. Grafton. 
“ Come to think about it, though, he never talked much 
about politics to me. But I’ll tell you confidentially what 


56 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

he did do. When I was trying for Congress he let me have 
three thousand dollars to help me out in paying the ex- 
penses of my canvass. I gave him my note secured by a 
mortgage on all my personal property. He agreed not to 
place the mortgage on record and to give me all the time 
I might need to pay off the note. He voted every man on 
his ranch for me when I ran for the legislature and seemed 
to take a real interest in my success. It seems to me that 
he wouldn’t have done all that if he hadn’t been with us on 
the main issues.” 

“So, you owe him three thousand dollars, do you? He 
lent it to you to run your campaign on; and he holds your 
note and an unrecorded mortgage on all your personal 
property, does he?” Mr. Spellbinder said this in an ab- 
stracted sort of way, partly to Mr. Grafton and partly to 
himself. He thought he could see through Moore’s scheme 
easily enough. He had made Mr. Grafton believe he was 
all right politically by lending him the money to help him 
in politics. Mr. Grafton, who, aside from his tendency to 
run off after impracticable ideas in politics, was an honest, 
straightforward man, and it was not difficult for a man of 
Moore’s pleasing manners and standing as a business man 
to deceive him. It was quite evident to Mr. Spellbinder 
that Moore had woven his web around Mr. Grafton and 
that he was completely in his power. He thought to him- 
self how quickly he would release Mr. Grafton from his 
money obligation to this unscrupulous man if he had the 
power to do so. But three thousand dollars was more 
money than the young State officer wa^ able to raise, and 
therefore he was powerless to extend the relief that he 
would otherwise be glad to do. Breaking the silence which 
had lasted for several seconds, Mr. Spellbinder said in a 
very deliberate way: 

“ Mr. Grafton, my advice to you is to get that man out 


A Story of the Times 


57 


of your house as soon as you can, and if it is a possible 
thing relieve yourself of the obligations you are under to 
him on account of the loan he made you. It will be better 
for you and better for your family. I think, under the cir- 
cumstances, I have a right to say this much to you without 
violating any rule of propriety.” 

“ I don’t understand,” replied Mr. Grafton with a pain- 
fully puzzled expression on his face. 

“ You take my word for it,” said Mr. Spellbinder, “ there 
is a mystery about that man. He bodes no good to you 
or yours.” 

“ But he is going to let me have more money next fall, 
when, as you know, I am to be the fusion candidate for 
lieutenant-governor. I can’t give him the cold shoulder 
unless I have good reasons for doing so, without disregard- 
ing my own interests,” answered Mr. Grafton. 

“ If you don’t,” said Mr. Spellbinder, “ you will wish you 
had and you can take my word for it.” 

This was said in a tone and manner that sent cold chills 
up and down Mr. Grafton’s back. Here the conversation 
between them ended, and Mr. Spellbinder walked up to the 
house, while Mr. Grafton turned his attention to getting 
the horses ready to take him to the station. 

When Mr. Spellbinder arrived at the house he found 
Virginia alone in the parlor, and he at once engaged her 
in conversation on the subject nearest his heart. He said: 

“ Miss Grafton, I am glad I have found you alone, for I 
desire to talk with you before I leave on a matter that was 
uppermost in my mind when I left Lincoln to visit your 
home. I almost feel that you divine what I would say.” 

“Hardly, Mr. Spellbinder,” replied Virginia; “my pow- 
ers of intuition are scarcely equal to that, I assure you.” 

“ Then, I am to understand,” answered Mr. Spellbinder, 
“ that I have failed in my conversations with you in Lin- 


58 The Homesteader's Daughter 

coin and in rny letters to you since then to convey to you 
what I really desired to do, the impression that I was really 
in loye with you. I thought it proper to mention the mat- 
ter to your father before making any declarations to you 
on the subject, and we have just had a conversation in 
which the matter was discussed. He informed me that I 
was probably too late; that you were practically if not 
formally engaged to Mr. Moore. May I be bold enough 
to ask you if this is true? ” 

“ Qf course I do not know what father may have meant 
by whatever remarks he made to you,” she answered, “ and 
I have no comment to make on what you intimate to me he 
did say; but I desire to say to you most emphatically that 
I am not engaged to Mr. Moore, nor am I engaged to any 
other man; and I wish tp say further, in a perfectly frank 
and kindly way, that I have no desire to engage myself to 
any one at this time.” 

“ I am delighted to hear this, Miss Grafton. I really in- 
ferred from what ypur father said to me that you were en- 
gaged to marry Mr. Moore. I may have misunderstood 
him — in fact, I doubtless did misunderstand him — ” 

“ There, Mr. Spellbinder,” interposed Virginia, at the 
same time raising her hands in protest, “ please do me the 
kindness not to mention Mr. Moore’s name in this connec- 
tion. I have answered you frankly and fully already, and 
I think, finally.” 

Mr. Spellbinder hesitated a moment and then seemed 
about to speak, but restraining himself he held out his hand 
which she took, and without speaking another word they 
shook hands and parted. 

Mr. Spellbinder bade Mrs. Grafton a hearty good-bye, 
and sbe urged him to come again to visit them whenever he 
might find it convenient to do so. 

The leave-taking between Mr. Spellbinder and Mr. 


A StORY OF THE TlMES 


59 


Moore was noticeably formal. It was very apparent that 
they had conceived a positive dislike for each other. 

On the way to the station Mr. Grafton tried several times 
to engage Mr. Spellbinder in conversation, but that gentle- 
man seemed singularly disinclined to talk on any subject, 
even on politics. Once, however, he became interested 
when Mr. Grafton remarked that it would be better for 
men in debt if free coinage of silver could be brought about. 

“ I guess you’re right about that,” replied Mr. Spell- 
binder, “ it would give you a chance to pay off that money 
you borrowed from Moore in fifty-cent dollars, provided 
you had any bullion to take to the mint to be coined into 
money. And I wish you had, by George, for I would like 
to see that rascal beaten out of about half that money he 
lent you in order to get you into his power.” 

“ I have no desire,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ to beat any- 
body, and I don’t know as it would be beating Moore to 
pay off the debt I owe him in legal tender. But I wish I 
did know for a certainty whether Mr. Bryan will be elected 
or not, and whether if he was elected Congress would pass 
a free-coinage act; I would manage some way to raise three 
thousand dollars, and I would buy silver bullion with it at 
the present price of forty-six cents an ounce. I would hold 
this until the free-coinage act went into effect and then I 
would take it to the mint and have it coined. I would gfet 
back over six thousand dollars, which would enable me to 
pay off the debt I owe Moore and have three thousand dol- 
lars left. That’s how free-coinage would help me.” 

“ Yes, but what would Moore say about it?” replied Mr. 
Spellbinder in a half-joking sort of way. “ Do you think 
he would be satisfied to be paid back in dollars worth half 
of the dollars he let you have? Don’t you think he would 
kick like a bay steer? ” 

“ I don’t see why he would. Wouldn’t he haVe as many 


6o 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


dollars as I borrowed from him?” replied Mr. Grafton. 

“ Yes, but they would be depreciated dollars. Possibly 
you might say dishonest dollars,” replied Mr. Spellbinder, 
who was in a mood to badger his friend Grafton a little. 
“ Moore would think, if he didn’t say it — and I think he’d 
say it — that he had been flim-flammed out of just fifteen 
hundred dollars.” 

Noticing that Mr. Grafton was looking at him in a curi- 
ously earnest way as if he was surprised at hearing such 
talk fall from the lips of a leader in the Populist party, and 
not desiring to make an entirely wrong impression on his 
mind, Mr. Spellbinder gave a chuckling laugh and said: 

“ Of course I am saying this to you and not to the pub- 
lic. I wouldn’t have you repeat it as coming from me, and 
I don’t want you to take what I have said too seriously for 
I have no desire to convert you into a gold-standard Re- 
publican,” at which both laughed heartily. 

After this Mr. Spellbinder became quite himself, and 
was as talkative as was his usual habit. He said to Mr. 
Grafton that there was a good deal in what the Republicans 
had to say about fifty-cent dollars, and he repeated to 
Grafton a conversation he had had with the President of 
the Grant Smelting Works in Omaha, which caused an- 
other laugh. Spellbinder told Grafton that this official 
who had always been a Republican informed him that he 
would like to see Bryan elected and would give a consider- 
able sum toward the campaign fund to help the Populist 
cause. He said he didn’t want to take an active personal 
part in the campaign, but he would quietly put up some 
money. 

“ But, what was his object in putting up the money for 
Bryan? ” asked Mr. Grafton in an innocent sort of a way. 

“ Well,” replied Spellbinder, “ there is no secret about it; 
the Republicans have exploited it fully. The smelting 


A Story of the TImes 


6i 


works had six hundred thousand dollars worth of silver 
bullion lying in their vault, and if Bryan was elected and 
a free-coinage law was passed it would double the value of 
their bullion, for they could take it to the mint and have 
it coined into over a million two hundred thousand silver 
dollars, thus making clear at least six hundred thousand 
dollars. It isn’t hard to see, is it, that they could afford to 
put up a little money for Bryan to help bring about free- 
coinage? ” 

“ A blind man could see that,” replied Mr. Grafton. “ I 
don’t think the Republicans worked that point for all there 
was in it when they were pitching into the free coinage of 
silver at a ratio of 16 to I. My uncle is interested in a 
silver mine in Mexico and he wrote me that the company 
was going to give ten thousand dollars for the campaign 
fund to help on the good cause; and I suspect the charges 
made by the Republicans were about correct that the silver- 
mine owners and bullion owners contributed more money 
to the Bryan fund than was obtained from any other 
source.” 

“ Yes,” said Mr. Spellbinder, “ it would have been pretty 
close picking for us if it hadn’t been for the silver-mine 
owners and large bullion holders. Since then they have 
turned their attention to mining for gold, and they have 
made so much more money out of it I don’t believe they 
-will take so much interest this year in the campaign.” 

They had reached the station, and while waiting for the 
train to arrive, Mr. Spellbinder in a very confidential way 
said to Mr. Grafton: 

“ Don’t you borrow any more money from that fellow 
Moore, and pay off the debt you owe him, even if you have 
to make a sacrifice to do it, as soon as possible. If you 
can’t do it otherwise, transfer the loan. I think I can get 
that amount of money for you at a reasonable rate of inter- 
est. At all events you must get out of the hands of Moore.” 


62 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


Mr. Grafton looked at Mr. Spellbinder in a most earn- 
est way and acted like a man who felt that his private busi- 
ness was being pried into in a most impertinent manner. 
Whatever his thoughts were, he contented himself with say- 
ing: 

“ You don’t seem to like Mr. Moore, and it seerhs to me 
you go further than you should to show it. Moore has been 
neighborly with me and helped me when he had an oppor- 
tunity to do it.” 

“ Yes, I ktiow he helped you in a way,” answered Mr. 
Spellbinder, “ blit he never would have done it if he hadn’t 
thought that he could get you into his power by doing it. 
I don’t want you to think that I’m impertinent and trying 
to stick my nose into your private affairs ; and to satisfy you 
of this I will tell yoii something in confidence about this 
man, Moore. I cannot tell you all, for if I did it might pos- 
sibly defeat the ends of justice. I will say this much to 
you, however; he is a dangerous man, and it will not be 
very long, I think, before you will have full proof - of my 
statement. I thought I recognized him when I first met 
him at your house, but I was not quite siire of it until this 
morning. His photograph is in the hands of the officers in 
Lincoln at this time, and I am so sure that I am not mis- 
taken in the identity of the man that I shall put the officers 
on to him as soon as I get back.” 

“ You don’t mean to say that he is a renegade from jus- 
tice, do you?” exclaimed Mr. Grafton in a tone of voice 
that indicated a good deal of suppressed excitement. 

“ That is just exactly what I mean, Mr. Grafton, and I 
trust you will not say anything that will give him warning 
that he has been discovered,” replied Mr. Spellbinder. 

The train came, at this point in the conversation, and the 
two men shook hands and parted. 

Mr. Grafton was in a not very comfortable state of mind 


A Story of the Times 


63 


for the rest of the day. He felt confident that Mr. Spell- 
binder, who was a responsible man and a prominent State 
officer, would hardly make such a remark about a man sit- 
uated as Mr. Moore was unless he believed what he said. 
Yet he could not dismiss the thought from his mind that 
Mr. Spellbinder was mistaken. At least he hoped so. 


6 4 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


CHAPTER VII. 

Mr. Moore Well Enough to Return to His Own 
Ranch. 

The day after Mr. Spellbinder’s departure Mr. Moore an- 
nounced his purpose to return to his “ bachelor’s den” on 
his ranch. He said he felt quite himself, and while he 
would be glad to prolong his stay with friends who had 
been so good to him, he felt that to stay longer would be 
imposing on hospitality. He expressed his thanks to Mrs. 
Grafton and Virginia for their motherly and sisterly care in 
the most felicitous words possible. His manner was so 
deferential and earnest, and his gratitude was so full of 
genuine feeling, that Mrs. Grafton was moved to tears, and 
Virginia realized, as she had never done before, that the 
man possessed unusual powers of fascination. 

' When he had expressed his gratitude and Mrs. Grafton 
had recovered her composure, he said: 

“ I will not feel satisfied to have been the beneficiary of 
all your kindness and helpfulness in my convalescence un- 
less you will consent to receive from me a suitable com- 
pensation in money.” 

He was about to go on when Mrs. Grafton lifted up her 
hands in protest to his saying anything further. Virginia 
spoke up and said: 

“ Mr. Moore you are entirely welcdme to what we have 
been able to do for you and we only regret that it was not 
in our power to do more. We cannot entertain the sug- 
gestion for a moment that you have just made.” 


A Story op the Times 65 

“ Certainly not,” said Mrs. Grafton, “ we could not think 
of doing such an unneighborly thing.” 

At this moment Mr. Moore’s carriage appeared at the 
gate, and the man who had come every day from the ranch 
to see Mr. Moore and to bring such of his mail as needed 
his personal attention alighted and came up to the house. 
Mr. Moore met him at the door and told him that he was 
ready to go and that he would find his effects already pack- 
ed in his room. While the man was carrying out Mr. 
Moore’s instructions the latter pressed upon Mrs. Grafton 
and Virginia an invitation for them to ride over to his rancli 
with him in the carriage, as in this way they would make 
his departure from the Grafton home much pleasanter for 
him. They accepted the invitation and really enjoyed the 
ride over in Mr. Moore’s rather stylish turnout. In fact 
the carriage was about the most luxurious one owned in 
the county, and the horses were probably as fine a team as 
there was in the State. The ride over to Mr. Moore’s ranch 
was in every way pleasant, and Virginia thought she had 
never known Mr. Moore quite so brilliant and entertaining. 
As they were nearing the ranch Mr. Moore said: 

“ I trust you will do me the honor of inspecting my bach- 
elor quarters. I have many times felt like inviting you 
over, but never was quite sure that you had enough inter- 
est in a bachelor’s retreat to accept; and for this poor 
reason doubtless proved myself, in your estimation, very 
unneighborly and inhospitable.” 

Mrs. Grafton said they would be very pleased to accept 
his invitation. 

When they entered the reception-room of the house they 
were surprised at its coziness and elegance. Indeed, as 
they passed from one room to another they were more and 
more surprised at the exquisite taste shown in the furnish- 
ings and appointments. The library was Mr. Moore’s spe- 


66 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


cial delight, and he called attention to.it with an enthusiasm 
which showed that he was a true lover of books; and a mere 
glance at the well-filled shelves was sufficient to satisfy an 
intelligent observer that he was a man of refined taste and 
broad culture. Another room which he called his museum 
was filled with curios and bric-a-brac which he had col- 
lected in his extensive travels. He gave a running ac- 
count of some of the most attractive objects in the collec- 
tion which caused a half-hour to pass very quickly. 

“Why!” said Virginia, “you never told us anything 
about these interesting curios and your fine library. It 
seems to me you have been strangely reticent about what 
you call your bachelor’s den.” 

“ And,” added Mrs. Grafton, “ you have said not a word 
about your housekeeper.” 

“ I’m afraid,” replied Mr. Moore, “ that I have been more 
selfish than I should have been. There is danger of one’s 
becoming too much of a recluse when he shuts himself up 
in his library on a ranch situated miles away from his neigh- 
bors. If I had thought, however, that you would have 
taken such a positive interest in my quarters, I assure you 
nothing would have given me more pleasure than to have 
had you visit them long ago and often. I shall not be so 
unneighborly in the future.” 

“ But you haven’t said anything about your housekeeper, 
of whom I inquired a moment ago,” said Mrs. Grafton. 

“ I hope you do not think I have a woman housekeeper 
here,” replied Mr. Moore, laughing. 

“ Everything is so neat and tidy one would be almost 
forced to the conclusion that there was a woman around 
somewhere,” replied Mrs. Grafton. 

“ My housekeeper,” replied Mr. Moore, “ is a little 
Frenchman who knows how to do everything. He was 
my valet for a number of years when I devoted my time 


A Story of the Times 


67 


to globe-trotting; and when I located here he astonished 
me by informing me that he knew how to cook and take 
care of a house. The truthfulness of his claim you have 
already attested, and I will fail in my duty to him not to 
fully agree with you. He certainly is as particular in his 
housekeeping as any one could be. In addition to all that 
he is a most excellent cook, and I hope to have the pleasure 
of giving you an opportunity to judge of his accomplish- 
ment in this direction some time very soon. He is the man 
who has been coming to see me every day while I was con- 
fined at your house. He insisted that I should come home 
instead of remaining there, boldly informing me that he 
was as good a nurse as anybody and that he could take care 
of me quite as well as anybody else. But I was too well 
contented where I was to think of yielding to his persuasive 
eloquence.” 

“ You certainly do us a great honor and pay us a very 
high compliment, Mr. Moore,” said Virginia. 

“ I only wish,” earnestly replied Mr. Moore, “ that you 
would allow me to pay you something more substantial 
than compliments,” addressing himself particularly to Mrs. 
Grafton. He continued by saying: 

“ I have been thinking ever since you refused to accept 
money from me that I would be most happy if you would 
accept as a present from me, as a small token of my grati- 
tude, the carriage and horses now awaiting your return 
home. I have another carriage and a buggy and plenty o'f 
horses, and do not need this rig; and I do hope you will 
accept it, not as compensation — oh! no — but as an expres- 
sion of my regard and gratitude.” 

Mrs. Grafton gave signs of yielding to Mr. Moore’s in- 
fluence, and Virginia took the matter into her own hands 
by saying in a very emphatic, yet kindly way, that they 
could not think of accepting such a gift; that while they 


68 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


fully realized he was in earnest and was prompted by the 
highest motive, yet they could not accede to his wish in 
the matter. And lest her mother might yet yield, Vir- 
ginia arose and said they must be going, and led the way 
at once to the carriage. 

On their way home Mrs. Grafton remarked to her 
daughter that she had never met a more delightful gentle- 
man, nor a more appreciative and generous one than Mr. 
Moore. 

Virginia, making no reply to this remark of her mother, 
the latter construed her silence to mean really what it did 
not, and she continued by saying : 

“ I am satisfied that Mr. Moore is greatly interested in 
you, Virginia, and while I don’t desire to interfere with 
your choice of a husband, I feel quite sure he would make 
you a most excellent one, and I do hope you will give him 
encouragement.” 

“ I agree with you, mother,” replied Virginia, “ that Mr. 
Moore is a very interesting man, and appears to have that 
charming quality of gratitude which must be admired in 
every one as a crowning virtue.” 

Mrs. Grafton seemed pleased with this answer, notwith- 
standing it was so general in its character. She would not 
have been so well pleased had she been able to read Vir- 
ginia’s thoughts. As a matter of fact the visit to Mr. 
Moore’s house had accentuated, rather than diminished, 
Virginia’s fear of this man. She had read the subtle work- 
ings of his countenance, and the conclusions she reached 
from her analysis were entirely satisfactory to her. She 
recognized the superior bearing of the man, his carefully 
selected words, his charming deference to ladies, his re- 
fined reserve, and cleverness in turning every point to his 
advantage without seeming to have any such purpose, but 
this fact did not envelop him in a disguise that was so com- 


A Story of the Times 


69 


plete as to prevent Virginia from seeing through it and dis- 
cerning something of the real character of the man. She 
saw how strangely her mother was fascinated by him, and 
she had discovered that her father for some reason was in 
his power. This only determined her the more to avoid 
the man as much as possible and to await developments. 

Not long after this event Mr. Moore in his carriage over- 
took Virginia on her way from her school. He invited her 
to ride with him, which she consented to do. Mr. Moore 
was a good conversationalist and never lacked for some- 
thing interesting and appropriate to say. Overtaking Vir- 
ginia on her way from school suggested to his mind the 
circumstance of her having passed over a part of the road 
they were on the night when she so heroically led her 
school through the blizzard to a place of safety. He re- 
marked : 

“ This is a very different evening from the one of the 
awful blizzard when you passed over a part of this road at 
the head of the column of children you were trying to save. 
Looking at the approaching sunset and the peaceful land- 
scape, than which I never have seen anything more beauti- 
ful in any part of the world, one can hardly realize that this 
landscape was the theater of such a storm as that which 
swept over this community and brought sorrow and mourn- 
ing to so many homes.” 

“ I never allow myself to recall the fearful storms I have 
witnessed on the prairies when I am enjoying such an even- 
ing as this. I prefer to drink in the glorious ecstasy with- 
out attempting to make the picture more positive in its 
coloring by contrasting it with the effects produced by the 
wild and violent blizzard,” replied Virginia. 

His conversation all the way to her home was of the kind 
to intoxicate and entrance, but it fell short of that effect on 
Virginia. She recognized the gifts of the man, and the 


70 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


treasures of exquisite knowledge he seemed able to weave 
about even the most commonplace subjects, to the delecta- 
tion of his hearer, but the effect on her was simply intel- 
lectual. 

When he assisted Virginia to alight at her home he beg- 
ged her to allow him to call on her soon. 

“ It will give us all pleasure, Mr. Moore, to have you 
visit our home at any time,” said Virginia in her usually 
frank and cordial manner. 

Acting upon this invitation Mr. Moore drove over to the 
Grafton ranch the next evening. Mrs. Grafton and Vir- 
ginia met him with pleasing cordiality, but it was noticed 
by Virginia, if not by Mrs. Grafton and their visitor, that 
Mr. Grafton’s reception of Mr. Moore lacked its usual en- 
thusiasm. Virginia ascribed this conduct on the part of 
her father to a slight indisposition of which he had been 
complaining, being in ignorance of the real cause. How- 
ever, Mrs. Grafton and Virginia made it very pleasant for 
Mr. Moore, and the evening passed off enjoyably enough 
for that gentleman, notwithstanding his disappointment at 
not having an opportunity to broach the subject uppermost 
in his mind. 

Mr. Grafton had very little to say during the evening, 
but just before Mr. Moore took his departure he asked him 
if he had read Mr. Bryan’s great Fourth of July speech, 
delivered at Lincoln. 

“ No,” replied Mr. Moore, “ but I should like to, be- 
cause I usually enjoy reading his speeches; they are always 
so eloquent.” 

“ I’ll be glad to let you have the speech,” replied Mr. 
Grafton. “ There are some things in it, however, that I 
do not like very much. One passage in particular it seems 
to me he might better have omitted. For example, in re- 
ferring to the political battle of this year he said : ‘ The 


A Story of the Times 


7 1 


fight this year will be to carry out the sentiment of that 
song we have so often repeated, ‘ My country ’tis of thee.’ 
If we lose, our children and our children’s children will not 
succeed to the spirit of that song, and celebrations of the 
Fourth of July will pass away; for the spirit of Empire will 
be upon us.’ ” 

“ What is there in that, Mr. Grafton, that you object to? ” 
asked Mr. Moore. 

“ Well,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ it seems extravagant. If 
it means anything, it is intended to convey the idea that if 
Mr. Bryan is defeated the victors will be in favor of de- 
stroying the liberty and independence which we celebrate 
on the Fourth of July.” 

“ Ye§; that seems to be what he says,” replied Mr. 
Moore. 

“ I’m a pretty good Populist,” said Mr. Grafton, “ and 
am a great admirer of Mr. Bryan and expect to vote for 
him, but I don’t believe that Mr. McKinley and those who 
will oppose Mr. Bryan at the election would be in favor of 
anything that would take from us our liberty and inde- 
pendence. Every intelligent citizen would oppose any 
proposition or any measure looking to such a result. The 
Republicans love liberty and independence and the insti- 
tutions of the country just as well as Democrats and Popu- 
lists and Free Silverites. Everybody knows this; and 
however much one admires Mr. Bryan, he will be forced by 
his own conscience to regard the prediction as extravagant 
and foolish. Don’t you think so? ” 

“ It appears to me,” replied Mr. Moore, “ to be a rhetor- 
ical flight — a kind of political extravaganza on a small 
scale.” 

“ Mr. Bryan,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ seems given to 
prophesying. He did a good deal of that four years ago in 
his speeches throughout the country, and because many of 


72 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


his predictions utterly failed, thousands of people have lost 
confidence in him, and will not vote for him this fall. I am 
sorry to see him beginning so early in the campaign in the 
role of a prophet. I’m afraid it will do him no good.” 

“ I rather agree with you, Mr. Grafton,” answered Mr. 
Moore, “ but I have always noticed that men who talk over 
much and indulge in flights of eloquence say things that 
won’t bear the closest and most candid criticism.” 


A Story of the Times 


73 


CHAPTER VIII,. 

A Lover’s Disappointment. 

A few evenings after Mr. Moore’s visit to the Graftons, 
described in the previous chapter, he was driving by, and 
observing Miss Grafton in the yard replacing straw about 
some valuable rose-bushes to prevent their budding too 
early for the late frosts, he stopped and very gallantly offer- 
ed to relieve her of the work she was doing. 

“ I thank you, Mr. Moore,” said Virginia, “ but I have 
nearly finished my task, which I assure you was a pleasant 
one; for I feel in caring for these bushes which I set out 
with my own hands and have carefully nursed, much as a 
mother doubtless feels for her child when she does some- 
thing for it to insure its greater comfort and safety. My 
work being done, will you not go with me to the house? 
Mother is there and she will be glad to see you.” 

“ I trust you will pardon me,” replied Mr. Moore, “ for 
not accepting your invitation, which I would be glad to 
accept but for a business engagement at my ranch with 
some gentlemen from Chicago, who have probably arrived 
there ere now. Kindly convey to your lovely mother my 
kindest regards and explain to her why I did not pay my 
respects to her in person. I noticed you in the yard and I 
could not resist the temptation to speak to you. In fact 
I thought the opportunity presented itself for me to speak 
to you on a subject that is very near to my heart and which 
I intended to broach at our last meeting — ” 

“ Had we better not go to the house, Mr. Moore? ” Vir- 
ginia answered in a way to suggest that she anticipated 


74 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


words from Mr. Moore’s lips that she would rather not 
have him utter. 

Disregarding this suggestion, he moved close to her and 
in an earnest way said: 

“ Miss Grafton, I have at different times endeavored by 
suggestions and manner to impress on your mind the 
thought that I was deeply interested in you, aye, that I 
loved you, and lately I determined to declare openly and 
boldly my love and devotion for you — ” 

“ I think,” interposed Virginia, “ we would better go to 
the— ” 

Paying no attention to Virginia’s words and evident de- 
sire to go to the house, Mr. Moore continued: 

“ I will not multiply words, for I deem it quite unneces- 
sary to do so with one of your intelligence and determined 
character, but I must in obedience to the demands of my 
heart say to you that I love you dearly and devotedly and 
would be glad to be able to make you my wife. I am sure 
I can make you happy. I have abundance of means and 
all will be laid at your feet. By your answer you can make 
me a happy or a miserable man.” 

Virginia listened attentively and respectfully until he had 
finished, and then calmly replied: 

“ I must say in all candor, Mr. Moore, that I consider 
your offer one not to be lightly brushed aside — indeed, one 
which any young woman might regard as an honor and a 
compliment to her. I so consider it; but, I must be as di- 
rect in my answer as you were pleased to be in making your 
offer.” Here she hesitated, and her voice trembled a little 
with emotion, but she continued and said: “ I cannot en- 
tertain your offer of marriage.” 

Mr. Moore was apparently much affected by her answer. 
He essayed to speak several times before he was able to 
control his voice. Finally he said: 


A Story of the Times 


75 


“ I am greatly disappointed. Perhaps I had no good 
grounds for expecting a favorable answer. It may be that 
I was blinded by my love for you. But I hope you will for- 
give me, Miss Grafton, if I have been too bold and pre- 
suming. Will you not give me some word of hope — some 
encouragement to believe that I may yet be able to change 
your decision? ” 

“ I have but the one answer,” she replied; “ it cannot be.” 

“ Then, farewell, Miss Grafton, I must give you full cred- 
it for knowing your mind and of being thoroughly sincere, 
and, therefore, I realize that it would be futile for me to 
press my suit further, at least at this time,” said Mr. Moore. 

She extended her hand which he took in his and pressed 
it to his lips. 

As Virginia walked back to the house her thoughts were 
somewhat tempestuous and conflicting. She began to 
realize that she had had an offer of marriage from a very 
superior man — one whom almost any young woman would 
regard as a “ good catch,” and that she had rejected the 
offer. This fact agitated her as she had never been agi- 
tated before; and contrary to any experience she ever had 
in her life. She half repented a decision which she had 
made deliberately and felt certain when she made it that she 
had done what was for the best. This conflict in her mind 
was a new experience and made her feel that her will was 
not as strong as she had always thought it to be. She said 
to herself: 

“ I am glad it is over. I am sure that I did right. I 
could never marry that man,. My soul rebels against the 
very thought. I really don’t want to marry any man.” 
Having given vent to her feelings in this way she felt better. 

The reflections of Mr. Moore as he rode home were any- 
thing but comforting. Besides being grievously disap- 
pointed, his pride was stung. He felt humiliated. He fan- 


y 6 T*he Homesteader’s Daughter 

cied that when he got ready to propose marriage to a lady 
the response would be not only favorable, but full of eager- 
ness. To have been turned down by a country school 
teacher, the mere daughter of a homesteader, was really too 
much for his proud nature to bear with any degree of com- 
placency. As he reached his ranch and was about to give 
his team into the hands of the stableman, he said to himself, 
and couched his thoughts in the slang of the cowboy: 

“ The round-up isn’t over yet. I’ll rope that heifer. She’s 
my maverick, and I’ll put my brand on her as sure as my 
name is — is— ” for some reason or other he did not finish 
his sentence, but went hurriedly to the ranch office where 
he expected to meet some gentlemen from Chicago. 


« 


A Story of the Times 


77 


CHAPTER IX. 

A Mean Proposition which was Promptly Rejected. 

A few days after the occurrence detailed in the previous 
chapter, Mr. Grafton was passing the Moore ranch on his 
way to the railroad station when he was hailed by Mr. 
Moore, who asked him to alight and come in and look at 
a lot of corn-fed steers which would be shipped to market 
in a few days. Mr. Grafton had a pronounced weakness 
for fat steers and he readily accepted the invitation. After 
looking the smooth, sleek animals over with a critical eye 
and noting their fine points, Mr. Grafton remarked: 

“ I would be mighty glad if I had as fine a lot of steers to 
market just at this time as these are. I think I would be a 
little easier than I am now, for it would enable me to pay 
off some debts I owe, especially the debt I owe you.” 

“ Now, see here, my dear Grafton, you need not worry 
about that little sum of money I loaned you for campaign 
purposes. It is not such a big sum, and I am in no hurry 
about it, I assure you,” said Mr. Moore in his most suave 
manner. 

“ That’s all well enough, Mr. Moore, for you to say, but 
I owe it to you and you hold my note and a mortgage on 
my property, and I would feel a great deal happier if the 
debt was paid,” replied Mr. Grafton. 

“ Since you have mentioned the matter, Mr. Grafton, I 
think I can suggest a way by which you can liquidate the 
debt quickly and easily, if you desire to do so,” said Mr. 
Moore. 

“ How — what do you mean?” asked Mr. Grafton eag- 
erly. 


78 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


“ I will be plain and direct with you, Mr. Grafton,” re- 
plied Mr. Moore. “ I let you have the money to aid you in 
your race for Congress. I wanted to see you get there, and 
I did what I could for you — ” here he rather hesitated. 

“ Yes, I know you did,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ and I’m 
under lasting obligations to you for what you did, but what 
are you trying to get at? ” 

“ Simply this,” answered Mr. Moore, “ I want to marry 
Miss Virginia. I love her more than I thought I could 
love any woman. I proposed to her last week and she 
flatly refused me. Now, if you will persuade her to change 
her mind, and marry me, I will cancel the debt you owe me. 
I have no doubt you can do this if you want to. Will you 
do it? ” As he finished his extraordinary speech he seized 
Mr. Grafton’s hand, and continued in the most beseeching 
way, “ will you do it — will you do it, my friend? ” 

Mr. Grafton seemed dazed for a moment, but soon ral- 
lied, and with ill-concealed indignation, replied: 

“ Virginia is my daughter, Mr. Moore, but I have no 
right to dictate to her or to attempt to dictate to her in a 
matter of this kind. If she refused you, the matter must 
rest there unless she voluntarily changes her mind.” 

“ I’m surprised, Mr. Grafton, that you would let a girl’s 
caprice stand in the way of such an advantage as I gener- 
ously offer you,” said Mr. Moore. 

“ See here, Moore, you have mistaken your man. I may 
be a blamed fool as some of my neighbors say I am, in 
politics, but when it comes to my daughter’s rights and 
happiness I am a Grafton of good old Virginia stock. I 
wouldn’t tfy to persuade my daughter to marry you or any 
other man she had refused to marry any quicker than I 
would be unmanly or indecent towards her.” 

“ It’s an easy way to pay a debt, Grafton,” replied Moore 
in a somewhat taunting way. 


A Story of the Times 


79 


“ Not for me — not for me,” quickly replied Mr. Grafton. 
“ If it was three million instead of three thousand dollars it 
would be all the same. My daughter’s happiness is more 
to me than money.” 

“ I hope you will never have occasion to regret your re- 
jection of my offer, Grafton,” answered Moore. 

Mr. Grafton drove on his way in rather an uneasy state 
of mind. He was satisfied with himself for the stand he 
had taken, and had nothing to regret for anything he had 
said to Moore. In fact it was the only stand a manly 
father could take under such circumstances. But to his 
mind the conversation foreshadowed evil to him and his 
family. He had come to regard Moore as a mysterious, 
and in some sense, a dangerous character. He could not 
explain to himself why; except it was because of what Mr. 
Spellbinder had said to him. At all events, there was but 
one thing for him to do and that was to get the money 
together in some way and pay off the debt he owed Moore. 
He went so far in the analysis of the disagreeable predica- 
ment in which he found himself as to say that he was a 
stupendous fool for allowing his name to be used as a can- 
didate for Congress. He said to himself: 

“ I was an idiot for doing it. Politics don’t pay, and as 
soon as I get out of this scrape and get through running 
for lieutenant-governor, I’ll be done with the whole busi- 
ness. I have fooled away time and money enough on poli- 
tics, and I’ll quit as soon as I’m elected lieutenant-governor. 
It isn’t every man that can write a book on a campaign in 
which he was defeated — a kind of an elaborate obituary on 
himself, as Mr. Bryan did, and get rich out of it. A good 
many of us farmers spend our time and money making the 
political pot boil only to enable smarter cooks to boil their 
potatoes in. I believe that there was a good deal of truth 
in what Spellbinder said jokingly— but jokes are sometimes 


8o 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


half truth — when he said that the farmers and laboring men 
in the West who had no silver mines or bullion stored away 
hadn’t much reason to be spending their time whooping it 
up for free silver, for they would have to work just as hard 
to get silver dollars as any other kind, and when they got 
them maybe they wouldn’t be worth more than fifty cents 
on the dollar. Blamed if I see much in politics anyway.” 

Mr. Grafton had worked himself into a strange confusion 
of ideas and a most uncomfortable state of mind by the time 
he reached the station. He put up his horses and went 
over to his favorite trading-place, on which was a conspicu- 
ous sign which read: 

“ The Farmer’s Anti-Monop. and Co-Op. Store.” 

After doing his trading he went down to the court-house 
to meet some of the county officers who were leading Popu- 
lists in the county, and he found that the old soldiers were 
holding a reunion in the court-house and court-house yard. 

Although he had been a Confederate soldier from Mis- 
souri, he believed in the union of the Blue and the Gray, 
and maintained very fraternal relations with the Union sol- 
diers of the county. In fact, one of his main objections to 
William Jennings Bryan as a candidate for office was that 
he had never shown himself to be particularly interested in 
the old soldiers. The explanation made by the old veter- 
ans that Mr. Bryan’s father was a bitter opponent of Presi- 
dent Lincoln and his war policy, and that this fact ac- 
counted for the indifference of William Jennings for the 
Union soldiers, was not calculated to help Mr. Grafton over 
his difficulty in giving his undivided support to the brilliant 
son. 

He mixed in with the boys in blue and crowded his way 
up as near to the platform as he could, from which General 
Paul Vandervoort, a middle-of-the road Populist, and a 
great reunion orator was speaking. The General had been 


A Story of the Times 


8i 


orating a little while before Mr. Grafton came up, but he 
was able to hear quite a good deal of the speech notwith- 
standing. The General was saying: 

“ I’ll tell you, boys, we want to vote as we shot — straight 
at the enemy. Bryan was in Congress for four years from 
Nebraska — a soldier State — and what did he say or do for 
the soldiers during that time? I have been unable to find 
in the Congressional Record a single law or an amend- 
ment to a law, in the interest of the soldiers, which was 
proposed by him. I have been unable to find reported in 
the Congressional Record a single speech made by Bryan 
on the floor of Congress supporting any measure looking 
to the interest of the Union veterans. I have searched in 
vain in the Record for a speech delivered by him defending 
the Union soldier against the vile attacks of Democrats. 
He sat in his seat silent as a clam when Jones of Virginia 
and Talbot of South' Carolina were making the Union sol- 
dier the subject of severest and most unjust criticism. 
When the Democrats charged that the Union pensioners 
were looting the Treasury, and that they were no better 
than highway robbers, Bryan opened not his mouth. He 
sat and heard the abuse of the soldiers of his own State and 
gave consent by his silence. He was no friend of the sol- 
diers then, and if we judge righteously by what he has 
been, he will be no friend to the Union soldier if he is 
elected President. All of the men who have insulted the 
Union veteran time and again in Congress, and always 
cast their votes against him, are rampant supporters of 
Bryan for President. These men come for the most part 
from ten States of the Union, where half of the people are 
governed without their consent, and they will run Bryan as 
President precisely as they did when he was in Congress. 
We had better trust the party which has put on the statute- 
books every law ever enacted for the benefit of the Union 


82 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


soldier. We had better not run off after strange gods, .as 
too many of us did when we voted against Comrade Harri- 
son for Cleveland. We got our reward then in vetoes and 
in seeing comrades turned out of office simply because they 
were Republicans and Union veterans; and as sure as there 
is a God in Heaven we will get the same kind of reward if 
we help elect Bryan President. Let us stay in the house of 
our friends and we will be given bread instead of stones. 

“ Bryan quotes a good deal from the sainted Lincoln in 
the hope of fooling somebody. He would make the people 
believe that the mantle of that great man has fallen upon 
his shoulders. He says that Lincoln was in favor of the 
plain people, and so is he; but, he does not tell you that 
Lincoln once said: ‘You can fool all of the people a part 
of the time, a part of the people all of the time, but you 
cannot fool all of the people all of the time.’ If that wise 
saying of the sainted Lincoln ever applied to a man and a 
party it applies to Bryan and to the conglomerate party 
whose candidate for President he is. 

“ He does not tell you that the sayings and doings of 
Lincoln when he was President were denounced and be- 
littled by the organized Democracy of the North, and un- 
less Bryan is an entirely different man from what his father 
was, had he lived then, he would have been as stanch a sup- 
porter of Vallandigham as was Judge Silas Bryan, from 
whose loins William Jennings sprang. Bryan would have 
been prominent among the men referred to by Mr. Lincoln 
in 1863, when he said: 

“ ‘ He who dissuades one man from volunteering or in- 
duces one soldier to desert, weakens the cause as much as 
he who kills an American soldier in battle. Must I shoot 
a simple-minded soldier boy who deserts, while I must not 
touch a hair of a wily agitator who induces him to desert? 
This is none the less injurious when effected by getting a 


A Story of the Times 


83 


father or mother or friend into a public meeting 1 and there 
working upon his feelings till he is persuaded to write the 
soldier boy that he is fighting in a bad cause, for a wicked 
administration of a contemptible Government. I think 
that, in such a case, to silence the agitator and save the boy 
is not only Constitutional, but withal a great mercy/ 

“ William Jennings Bryan, the agitator, never quotes this* 
language of President Lincoln. If he did, he would be 
striking too near home. This language was spoken in 
1863, yet it applies to William Jennings Bryan, of to-day, as 
it did to the copperheads of that day. The Bryan of to-day 
is encouraging our soldiers to desert in the Philippines, by 
persuading them to believe that they are waging war for an 
unholy cause. He is saying in his speeches substantially 
to Aguinaldo and his followers who are firing on the United 
States flag and ambushing our soldiers whenever they can: 
‘ Be of good cheer; hold out a little longer, and, if I am 
elected President, I’ll withdraw the United States army, 
haul down the American flag and let you have your own 
way/ 

“ What more did the copperheads do from 1861 to 1865 
than this? Did they not say to Jeff Davis and his follow- 
ers, ‘ Hold out a little longer; be of good cheer— we will 
elect a President who will obey the Constitution, and let 
you go in peace’? Did not the copperheads write letters 
to soldiers who were battling at the front encouraging them 
to desert by telling them that they were exposing their lives 
for a ‘wicked administration of a contemptible Govern- 
ment’? Did they not obstruct every measure proposed by 
President Lincoln and those supporting him in order to 
defeat the Union cause? This is history, boys. Will you, 
with your eyes open, vote for a man who by his speeches is 
encouraging the men who are firing on Old Glory in the 
Philippines and shooting down your sons, and is thereby 


84 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

emulating the copperheads of 1861 to ‘65?” (“No, no,” 

went up a shout from the throng, “ we’ll never do that.”) 

“ See that you don’t,” cried the speaker in a louder voice. 
“ Stand together for your own rights and welfare; stand by 
Old Glory; stand for the principles for which you fought 
four long years; stand by the party that stood by you in 
those bloody days; stand for Comrade McKinley, who 
stood by us, shoulder to shoulder, and who has stood 
for the welfare of the old soldier from that day to this.” 

At the close of General Vandervoort’s speech three rous- 
ing cheers were given for Comrade McKinley and Comrade 
Vandervoort, friends of the old veteran. 


A Story of the Times 


85 


CHAPTER X, 

A Crisis in the Grafton Home. 

On his way home Mr. Grafton endeavored to settle in 
his own mind whether he would speak of what had occur- 
red between him and Mr. Moore to his wife and daughter 
or not. He felt it his duty to impart to them everything 
involving the happiness of the family, yet he did not want 
to give them unnecessary anxiety and worry. He had 
kept from them the money transaction between himself and 
Moore, and it had been a source of humiliation and trouble 
to him because he did so. The folly of this was now em- 
phasized by the trouble which had grown out of it to him, 
and seemed likely to be the fruitful source of misery to his 
wife, and especially to Virginia. He was in a state of inde- 
cision on the subject when he arrived at the ranch. 

After supper the family repaired to the cozy sitting room 
as was their custom, and Virginia read to her parents as 
she was wont to do, and as Mr. Grafton really expected 
her to do. She had not read long, however, when Mr. 
Grafton, whose mind had not really been on the subject of 
the magazine article she was reading, stopped her and said 
he desired to tell them something of importance which was 
occupying his mind to the exclusion of every other subject. 
This unusual proceeding caused Mrs. Grafton and her 
daughter to look at Mr. Grafton in surprise. He went on 
to tell them the whole story in detail. After he had fin- 
ished he looked at his wife and then at his daughter with an 
expression of pain and anxiety on his face, which they had 
never seen there before, and which caused them to feel some 
alarm. 

Virginia arose and crossed the room to her father and 


86 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


folded her arms about his neck in a most gentle and lov- 
ing manner. Looking him affectionately in the face she 
said: 

“ My dear father, I beg you not to allow this experience 
to make you unhappy. You showed your love for me and 
your true manhood in spurning the unmanly proposition of 
Mr. Moore. While I am sorry you owe him a dollar, still 
all you do owe him can be paid. We may be compelled to 
make some sacrifices to discharge the obligation, yet it 
must be done. Then we shall be free of him. Do not 
worry, my dear father; mother and I are well and strong, 
and we shall be perfectly willing to bear our share of the 
sacrifice, whatever it may be, in order to pay the debt we 
owe this man, who has shown, I think, his real character.” 

Mrs. Grafton was in tears when Virginia had finished her 
truly womanly speech, but she quickly rallied and said: 

“ Virginia has given utterance to my own thoughts, and 
has expressed my feelings better than I could have done for 
myself. We will pay this debt, and thus be done with this 
man.” 

Mr. Grafton was a brave man when it was necessary to 
be brave; and like most men of real courage he was easily 
touched by gratitude and sympathy. His love for his wife 
and daughter and the consciousness that he was about to 
bring trouble upon them made him weak for the time 
being, but the courageous speech of his daughter, seconded 
by his wife, and the generous sympathy they manifested 
toward him aroused within him the true elements of his 
nature. With an emphatic gesture he said: 

“ The debt shall be paid, and we shall be under no obli- 
gations to a man who had the audacity to propose that I 
sell my daughter for money. Oh! I should have brained 
him on the spot ! ” 

“ No, my dear husband,” said his wife, “ it is better just 
as it is — I am glad you dealt with the matter precisely as 
you did.” 

Virginia’s eyes seemed ablaze with indignation, and for 


A Story of the Times 


87 


the moment the blood of her Virginia ancestors got the 
better of her and she really agreed with her father that he 
should have brained the man without hesitation. But a 
few moments afterwards she repented of this speech and de- 
clared that her mother was right, as she always was, and 
that her father acted wisely and well. 

At this juncture in the conversation there was a knock at 
the front door, and Mr. Grafton at once answered the call. 
A well-dressed gentleman, with a young and attractive face, 
stood before him when he opened the door. 

“ Will you come in, sir,” said Mr. Grafton, in a very cor- 
dial and hospitable voice. 

“ I beg your pardon,” said the gentleman, “ is this Mr. 
Grafton? ’ ; 

“ Yes, sir, I’m Mr. Grafton, will you do me the pleasure 
to come in? ” 

“ I am Mr. Van Kirk, of New Jersey,” he replied, “ with 
whom you have had some correspondence. I regret very 
much to have taken you by surprise. It was not my inten- 
tion at all, but it came about through a misunderstanding 
on my part in sending you a telegram of my coming. I did 
not realize that there would be delay in your receiving a 
telegram, else I would have written a letter, instead, in time 
for you to get it.” 

“ We’re certainly glad to see you, Mr. Van Kirk,” re- 
plied Mr. Grafton, and taking his hand he extended a gen- 
erous welcome by half drawing him inside of the door. 

Mr. Van Kirk informed Mr. Grafton that the man who 
had brought him out was in the buggy at the gate and that 
he had better go and dismiss him. 

“ I’ll attend to that, Mr. Van Kirk,” said Mr. Grafton. 
“ Take of! your overcoat, and I will show you into the sit- 
ting-room where Mrs. Grafton and my daughter are.” He 
conducted Mr. Van Kirk into the sitting-room and intro- 
duced him to the ladies, and then hurried out to look after 
the man who had brought Mr. Van Kirk from the railroad 
station. His purpose was to have the man stay all night 


88 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


at the ranch rather than drive back to the station, and he 
said to him: 

“ I would like to have you stay all night with us.” 

“ No,” said the man, “ I will have to go back to-night, as 
it is the orders. I can get back easy enough by ten o’clock.” 

“ I would like to have you stay if you can do so,” cor- 
dially replied Mr. Grafton. 

“Oh! no thank you, I’ll be off. That’s an awful fine 
man I brought out here, Mr. Grafton. He must be a rich 
feller, for he give me ten dollars besides payin’ the regular 
price for the rig, and he’s about the most interestin’ feller 
I ever heerd talk.” After delivering himself of this enco- 
mium on Mr. Van Kirk, in his homely way, he started off 
indulging in a merry whistle as he left. 

Mr. Grafton returned to the house and found the stranger 
in an easy conversation with his wife and daughter. He 
seemed to be already at home and Mrs. Grafton and Vir- 
ginia instead of thinking the stranger too bold really en- 
joyed the elegance of his familiar conversation and manner. 
Mr. Grafton very soon shared the feelings of his wife and 
daughter, for he, too, quickly came within the charm of 
Mr. Van Kirk’s conversation. Though hardly conscious 
of the fact, Mr. Van Kirk was really a perfect master of 
the art of conversation and pleasing address, so that even 
strangers who came within the sphere of his influence never 
failed to feel at ease. 

Mr. Grafton joined in the conversation, and the evening 
passed away so quickly that it was a matter of regret to all. 
The prejudice which Mr. Grafton had conceived for Mr. 
Van Kirk because he came from New Jersey and was en- 
dorsed so strongly by bank presidents and heads of trusts, 
had nearly vanished before the evening was half over, and 
Mrs. Grafton and Virginia were both charmed with him. 
Considering what soon followed the acquaintance thus so 
happily begun between Mr. Van Kirk and the Graftons, it 
may be readily assumed that the former was no less pleased 


A Story of the Times 89 

with at least one of the Grafton family than they were with 
him. 

Mr. Van Kirk was installed in the bedroom off the parlor 
which had been occupied by Mr. Moore during his conval- 
escence from the painful effects of his exposure to the bliz- 
zard. Somewhat to the astonishment of Mr. Van Kirk he 
found the room quite to his liking. It was furnished neatly 
and in some respects, richly, and compared favorably with 
his own bedroom in his more pretentious home in Trenton. 
This evidence of refined taste made him feel that the Graf- 
tons were very different from those pictured by people in 
the Eastern States as living on farms and ranches in the 
far West, who seem not to have learned from their reading 
that in many of the ranch and farm homes, even on the 
cattle-ranges of Wyoming and Montana, may be found the 
highest order of culture. Of course Mr. Van Kirk very 
promptly ascribed this proof of refinement in the Grafton 
home largely to Virginia, who was growing upon him rap- 
idly as a prodigy in all that was extraordinary in woman. 
He had pictured her completely in his imagination before 
he saw her; that is, he had fancied her to be what he would 
really like to have her be, and strange as it may seem, she 
proved to be the counterpart of his vision. With this 
rather remarkable beginning it was not at all surprising that 
she should unfold, so to speak, like a beautiful flower to 
charm and to satisfy. The difficulties with Mr. Van Kirk 
were external to himself — difficulties which he feared he 
would not be able to overcome. He loved Virginia. The 
anxious question which already began to torture his heart 
was, “ Would Virginia return his love? ” This thought 
made his heart beat faster than usual, and for the first time 
in his life he was timid to the point of cowardice. 

A very dainty and satisfying breakfast was served in the 
cozy dining room, and Mr. Van Kirk declared he had never 
enjoyed a meal more in his life. It was so apparent that 
Mr. Van Kirk was enjoying every moment of his visit at the 
Grafton home that Mr. and Mrs. Grafton had already ad- 


90 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

mitted to each other that they were heartily glad to have 
him for a guest. Virginia had said very little about the 
visitor to her parents, but it was plain to be seen that she, 
too, was glad to have him with them. 

Virginia’s duties at the school compelled her to be absent 
from home most of the day, and she informed Mr. Van 
Kirk that her father would esteem it an honor and pleas- 
ure to take him in the spring wagon and show him the 
farms and ranches, where the finest stock was to be seen, 
and she thought he would be able to entertain him pleas- 
antly, and perhaps profitably for several days. 

“ Yes,” said he, “ I shall be interested in seeing the large 
farms and ranches of which I have heard so much, and 
will no doubt find much to entertain and profit me.” 

Mr. Van Kirk expressed himself as highly pleased when 
Mr. Grafton informed him that they would take Virginia 
to her school before starting on their rounds. The vast 
prairie, which rolled away as far as the eye could see, like 
the mighty ocean, was a picture in itself which excited the 
admiration of Mr. Van Kirk and called forth from him ex- 
clamations of surprise and admiration. He remarked upon 
the extensive and fine improvements he observed on some 
of the ranches, and was much interested in the sod houses 
which still stood not far from the more modern improve- 
ments as monuments to the humble beginning of many of 
the ranchmen. The pretty groves of soft maple and wal- 
nut trees so evenly planted and so uniform in size, he 
thought, made up a relief to the landscape worthy of the 
brush of a master. These groves were planted for the pro- 
tection of houses and barns and corrals, and their vigorous 
growth and healthy appearance gave evidence of the 
strength of the soil and what man may accomplish by in- 
telligent effort and persevering industry. The vastness of 
the prairie seemed to excite his wonder most and he said: 

“ The prairie is simply bewildering in its grandeur and 
vastness.” 

“ So this is the little schoolhoiise of which I have read 


A Story of the Times 


9i 


so much in connection with the awful blizzard, and a certain 
little heroine whose courage and intelligence saved from 
death an entire school,” exclaimed Mr. Van Kirk, as they 
drove up to the little schoolhouse. 

“ Yes,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ this is the schoolhouse, 
and here come the same children.” 

The school children came trooping out towards them, 
with eyes beaming with gladness and cheeks ruddy with 
health and happiness, unmindful of the stranger, with ap- 
parently but one thought, and that was to get near the 
teacher. As she alighted they gathered around her and 
gave her a hearty welcome. “ Good morning, dear teach- 
er,” “ good morning, dear teacher,” they cried as they 
pressed up to her to receive her kind words of greeting, and 
to get within the charm of her smile. She caressed sev- 
eral of the younger ones who nestled up close to her, as 
if they were anxious for her blessing. 

“ Children, this gentleman is Mr. Van Kirk who is visit- 
ing in our neighborhood,” said the teacher. 

They courtesied prettily and said, “ welcome are you, sir, 
to our neighborhood.” 

Bidding Virginia and the children good-bye Mr. Grafton 
and Mr. Van Kirk took their departure. The latter re- 
called that on their way to the schoolhouse they met a 
spanking team hitched to a single road wagon and driven 
by a man who seemed perfectly at home behind fast step- 
pers. Mr. Van Kirk had noticed that both Mr. Grafton 
and Virginia bowed formally to the man, and that he had 
returned the bow in equally as formal a manner. Mr. Van 
Kirk also noticed that as they passed the man fixed his 
eyes very intently on him. This was so noticeable that it 
produced a rather strange effect on him. It was not the 
gaze of an impudent man, but rather that of envious scru- 
tiny. 

“ That was a very fine turnout, Mr. Grafton, we passed 
on our way to the schoolhouse,” remarked Mr. Van Kirk 
soon after they had left the schoolhouse. 


92 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


“ Yes, that was Mr. Moore, a wealthy ranchman whose 
place is not far from my ranch,” answered Mr. Grafton. 
“ He is a breeder of very fine horses and prides himself 
on knowing how to break and handle them.” 

After this remark, Mr. Grafton, without intending to be 
discourteous, said nothing further about Mr. Moore, and 
Mr. Van Kirk, noticing that his companion did not seem 
desirous of continuing the subject pressed him no further, 
although he was really curious to know more of the man. 

The ride was full of interest and genuine delight to Mr. 
Van Kirk, who said he had never breathed purer air, fuller 
of ozone, had never seen a country more beautiful to look 
at, and had never seen finer horses and cattle and hogs. 
He talked about all he saw in a way to surprise Mr. Graf- 
ton, who had supposed that a wealthy young man from 
New Jersey would hardly know a horse from a steer. In 
this he was agreeably mistaken, for Mr. Van Kirk seemed 
to know all about both, and talked about the fine points of 
both horses and cattle in a way to interest and instruct Mr. 
Grafton. The fact was Mr. Van Kirk had several fine 
stock farms, small in size compared with the ones he had 
been visiting, and had given to the subject of breeding 
horses, cattle and hogs, special and scientific attention. 
As they were nearing the ranch of Mr. Grafton on their re- 
turn, Mr. Van Kirk noticed the fine improvements on Mr. 
Moore’s ranch, and in one of the corrals some specimens 
of Short Horns, and in another corral some most beautiful 
Clydesdale horses, and noticing that Mr. Grafton was not 
driving into the lane leading up to the house and barn he 
asked if they could not spend a half hour or so inspecting 
this ranch. Mr. Grafton replied that he was in somewhat 
of a hurry to return home, but that he thought they could 
spare a half hour at least in looking over the stock. Mr. 
Grafton really had no desire to meet Moore, but he yielded 
gracefully and without any manner of protest to Mr. Van 
Kirk’s wish, and drove up to the house. Mr. Moore came 
out and greeted them very cordially, and took more than 


A Story of the Times 


93 


his usual pains in showing them around the barns and sheds 
and corrals, and in having some of the finest specimens of 
his horses and cattle exhibited to their best advantage. 
Mr. Van Kirk expressed great pleasure at what he had 
seen, and complimented Mr. Moore very highly on the 
character of his improvements and the excellence of his 
stock. 

After Mr. Moore had shown them what he had at the 
barn, he extended them a cordial invitation to go into the 
house, which was accepted with the suggestion by Mr. 
Grafton that they expected to make a brief call simply to 
look over some of his fine horses and cattle, and with no 
•intention of making a visit. Mr. Moore said he would be 
gratified to have them stay, even for a few minutes. There 
was nothing in Mr. Moore’s conduct towards Mr. Grafton 
to indicate that he had any lingering ill feeling towards him 
on account of the result of their last interview. In truth, 
Mr. Grafton thought that his neighbor made an unusual 
effort to be agreeable. When they had entered the house, 
Mr. Moore led them to his lounging room and set out 
cigars and invited them to smoke. Mr. Grafton was fond 
of a fine cigar and lighted one and under its quieting in- 
fluence became more resigned to making a short visit with 
Mr. Moore. Mr. Van Kirk did not smoke, but seemed 
very much pleased to meet a gentleman of Mr. Moore’s 
general information and knowledge of the world. He was 
also much interested in the many curios artistically placed 
in this room for its ornamentation. There were guns and 
revolvers and knives of every kind and description hung 
about the room which gave it the air of an armory. These 
articles of warfare Mr. Moore had collected from all parts 
of the world, and took great pleasure in giving the history 
of each specimen. Mr. Van Kirk was no less interested in 
the library which Mr. Moore seemed to take special pleas- 
ure in showing to him. The effect of the twenty minutes’ 
visit on Mr. Van Kirk’s mind was that he had found in the 
person of Mr. Moore a very remarkable character. He did 


94 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


not communicate the fact to Mr. Grafton that while Mr. 
Moore had proven very interesting, yet he brought away 
with him an impression that was not altogether favorable 
to Mr. Moore. 

Mr. Moore pressed Mr. Van Kirk to honor him with 
another call before he left the neighborhood. The latter 
naturally expected Mr. Grafton to invite Mr. Moore in re- 
turn to call on his visitor at his house, and was somewhat 
surprised as well as disappointed that no such invitation 
was given. Mr. Van Kirk fancied he saw resentment and 
annoyance on the face of Mr. Moore on account of it, but 
he said nothing to Mr. Grafton about it after they left. He 
did say, however, that he was surprised to find a bachelor 
with such splendid quarters on a western ranch; that Mr. 
Moore himself was an interesting study. 

“ Has Mr. Moore been in this neighborhood very long? ” 
asked Mr. Van Kirk. 

“ About six years,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ and during 
this time he has not cultivated the acquaintance of a single 
family except my own. He does most of his business 
through a superintendent who has an office on the place, 
and who is as strangely unsociable, except in matters of 
business, as Mr. Moore himself. Mr. Moore attempted to 
reach the schoolhouse the night of the blizzard in the hope 
of being of some service to my daughter in rescuing the 
school but he lost his way and nearly lost his life in the 
undertaking. We took him to our home and nursed him 
until he had fully recovered from the effects of his expo- 
sure to the storm. He proved himself to be a very inter- 
esting person, and we came to think a good deal of him. 
Since that, however, I have had a reason to dislike and 
distrust him.” 

Mr. Van Kirk had the good judgment and tact to pur- 
sue the subject no further. 

Dinner was ready when they arrived at the Grafton ranch, 
and Mr. Van Kirk remarked to Mrs. Grafton that he 
thought he had acquired an appetite by his delightful ride 


A Story ,of the Times 


95 


with her husband that would enable him to do full justice 
to the meal. 

“ I am glad you feel so, Mr. Van Kirk,” replied Mrs. 
Grafton, “ for it gives every housewife a pleasure to cater 
to good appetites. We usually have a good supper on ac- 
count of my daughter, who is obliged to take her dinner to 
school in a pail, and she generally feels quite hungry when 
she returns home.” 

“ I must say, if you will pardon me,” replied Mr. Van 
Kirk, “ that you have a most remarkable daughter. Her 
wonderful pluck and intelligence in saving her school is 
the subject of enthusiastic comment all through the East. 
She is better known almost than any other woman, and I 
do believe better beloved. The American people almost 
deify any one who heroically saves the life of a single child, 
and it is not to be wondered at that they have deified one 
who saved a whole school. Since coming here and becom- 
ing acquainted with her I am impressed more than ever 
with her grand character. And to know that this justly 
celebrated young lady is so truly democratic as to carry 
her dinner to her school in a tin pail, and prefers to walk to 
and from her school, adds immensely to the interest, if not 
the romance, with which her life is invested. Surely an 
interesting novel could be written, with her as the heroine.” 

“ I certainly hope no such literary effort will be attempt- 
ed,” answered Mrs. Grafton. “ Virginia simply dreads no- 
toriety. She was very much put out by a magazine ar- 
ticle, describing the part she took in the blizzard, and using 
as an illustration her photograph which the writer of the 
article obtained from a photographer in Lincoln without 
her knowledge.” 

“ People who do great things,” saifl Mr. Van Kirk, “ are 
as a rule, I think, too sensitive. Great deeds of men and 
women really belong to the public and should be told in 
song and story to stimulate others to try and rise above 
mediocrity.” 


96 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

After a lull in the conversation Mr. Van Kirk remarked 
that Nebraska had another well known person for a citizen. 

“ I refer to Mr. Bryan,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ who has 
been in the public eye and in the public press more con- 
stantly for several years than any other young man in the 
country.” 

“ Yes,” replied Mr. Grafton, who had come in from the 
barn and who had heard the last remark of Mr. Van Kirk, 
“ the State is highly honored by having such a citizen. He 
is not an old timer among us but he has stirred up things 
in the State politically more than any other man in it. He 
is a great man, I think. When he first came to the State 
he began to make speeches on the tariff and the interest he 
injected into that dry old question brought him into prom- 
inence at once. I suppose he made more converts to free 
trade than any hundred men in the country. I have sat 
under his eloquence when he was discussing the tariff ques- 
tion and I tell you he aroused every drop of blood in me, 
and made me feel like a young soldier under the inspiring 
influence of martial music. I was ready to be led into the 
very front of the battle against the robber barons, who 
were pictured by Mr. Bryan as they had never been pic- 
tured before, as high-handed robbers of a helpless people. 
The hard knocks he gave high tariff are felt to this day in 
this part of the country. His tariff speeches landed him in 
Congress, and I believe if the silver question hadn’t come 
up his reputation as a tariff debater would have landed him 
in the White House. As it was he came near getting there 
by his great 16-to-i campaign. This time I believe he’ll 
make it on the anti-trust, anti-expansion and anti-imperial- 
ism issues. I have an idea he will stir things up more than 
ever on these question^. He is a gifted man, I tell you. He 
can take up a question that doesn’t seem to have anything 
in it and make more out of it than any man I ever heard 
talk. I declare until I read some of his speeches I had 
thought that expansion would be a good thing for the 


A Story of the Times 


97 


country. In fact, Bryan’s influence was what got the Dem- 
ocrats in the Senate to vote for the ratification of the Paris 
Treaty. It would have been defeated if it hadn’t been for 
his great influence, and I was surprised when he turned 
around and began to denounce the Republicans for doing 
just what he had influenced the Democrats to do. He’s 
pretty sharp, and it looks to me like he wanted to put 
McKinley in a hole in order to get a better chance at him. 
Everything’s fair in politics, you know.” 

“ Yes,” answered Mr. Van Kirk, “ I suppose so, but it 
seems to me that a little more of honesty and sincerity in 
politics would be better for the country in the long run. 
There is really too much demagogism in politics to assure 
stability to our institutions. Political success seems to be 
the aim of most politicians regardless of the means to 
achieve it. There is one thing to be deplored especially, 
and that is the effort of some men, from whom one would 
expect better things, to persuade the farmers and laborers 
of the country that their lot is a hard one, and that certain 
men who are enterprising and successful in projecting and 
carrying out large schemes in railroading and manufac- 
tures, indeed, various kinds of financial operations, are op- 
pressing them and bent on keeping them from getting 
reasonable prices for their commodities and their labor. 
Thus they generate a feeling of discontent, and bitterness 
in one part of the community against another, which is no 
more nor less than a condition of anarchy. My idea is 
that the truth ought to be recognized and admitted. The 
whole country is in a high state of prosperity. The re- 
ports from every kind of enterprise show this to be true. 
The common laborers are getting higher wages than they 
ever got before in this country, and higher than are re- 
ceived by the laborers of any country; everything produced 
by farmers and stock raisers brings high prices; the manu- 
facturing output of the country is larger than ever before, 
and while margins of profits are close, manufacturers seem 
well satisfied. And when you consider in connection with 


9 8 - 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


this that everybody who earns and gets a dollar is able to 
realize on that dollar a hundred cents everywhere, it would 
seem that there is very little just cause of complaint. This 
is the simple way I look at the condition of things, without 
stopping to consider how it will affect any party.” 

“ What party do you belong to, may I ask? ” said Mr. 
Grafton. 

“ Well, I have always voted the Republican ticket,” an- 
swered Mr. Van Kirk, “ but I have not been at all active in 
any party.” 

“ I suppose you are in favor of trusts,” said Mr. Grafton, 
“ living as you do in New Jersey? ” 

“ I hardly know how to answer your question, Mr. 
Grafton, as the name 4 trusts ’ is rather indefinite and some- 
what ambiguous. If you mean a combination of capital to 
carry out certain enterprises that would not be undertaken 
by an individual, I am certainly in favor of trusts of. that 
kind. For example, not long ago ten of my friends, in- 
cluding myself, put in ten thousand dollars apiece for the 
purpose of establishing a tannery for making leather by a 
new process which seemed to me to be a good one, and 
would enable the concern to manufacture leather a great 
deal cheaper than by the old methods of tanning. Not one 
of the number who went into this would have risked a hun- 
dred thousand dollars in the new venture, but each one was 
willing to risk ten thousand. The result of this venture 
has been that we are now producing a good quality of 
leather equal to almost any on the market, so that we are 
able to sell our product a good deal cheaper than the same 
quality of leather was ever sold before. Our success led 
to the organization of another trust, in which I put ten 
thousand dollars with nineteen other men who each put 
in a like sum. With this capital we established a shoe 
factory, which has given employment to three hundred per- 
sons from the day it was opened. Manufacturing our own 
leather cheaply, and using the most modern machinery and 


A Story of the Times 


99 


some new inventions which had never been used before, 
enable the factory to turn out the *very best and finest shoes 
at a lower cost than they were ever manufactured at before. 
The general effect of this is the lowering of prices of shoes 
to consumers. Assuredly in this case two trusts are doing 
good, by furnishing to men, women and children shoes at 
a lower cost. Another good effect is that other shoe manu- 
facturers in the country were compelled to put in newer and 
more economical machinery in order to compete with us. 
This increases the demand for labor by enlarging the de- 
mand for a better class of machinery. As you know, the 
prices of shoes are now lower than ever before. I have 
heard my father say that when he was a boy it was impos- 
sible for the rich to get as good and stylish shoes as are 
now within the reach of all; that a much inferior grade of 
shoes cost them at least thirty per cent more. All through 
the country there are building and loan associations which 
are trusts, and certainly no one can raise his voice against 
a trust of this character. In fact, as I have studied the 
question of trusts I find that not more than one trust out 
of twenty-five is objectionable. But as I understand it, all 
political parties, as well as nearly every individual, are in 
favor of such laws as shall regulate and control objec- 
tionable trusts. At least I am, and I am absolutely unac- 
quainted with a single person in the East, where I live, who 
disagrees with me. When I read some of the sensational 
articles in the newspapers about the terrible calamities they 
will bring on the country, I am simply amazed at the au- 
dacity and presumption of the writers. It strikes me that 
they presume upon the ignorance of their readers. I don’t 
really know of a single trust that is injuring the people. 
What trust is there, Mr. Grafton, that is injuring you or the 
farmers of this State?” 

“ I — I don’t just now think of any one,” answered Mr. 
Grafton, “ but it’s the proposition, the principle of the thing 
— that is, we are putting up a fight against the idea — the 


IOO 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


principle, for fear there might be trusts created that would 
hurt people.” 

“ Well, then,” replied Mr. Van Kirk, “ it’s not something 
that is really in existence which you are striking at in the 
Kansas City Platform so much as at the idea or principle 
involved. It may be well enough to agitate for political 
purposes an idea that something may happen and that 
therefore we ought to be prepared to guard against it, yet 
it seems to me that this sort of politics is a little premature. 
What do you think of the trust the farmers and wool grow- 
ers of Texas have formed for the purpose of enabling them 
to hold certain crops and wool clip for better prices? ” 

“ I think it’s all right for the farmers and wool growers 
to form a combination of this kind for their self-protec- 
tion,” answered Mr. Grafton. 

“ Then you are not opposed to the idea or principle in 
certain cases?” observed Mr. Van Kirk. 

“ Well, no,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ I’m not opposed to 
laboring men forming societies for the purpose of keeping 
up the price of labor and in regulating the hours of labor, 
and I think the farmers and stock raisers ought to com- 
bine for the purpose of keeping up prices on the commodi- 
ties they produce, but I’m down on trusts like the Standard 
Oil Company, for instance.” 

“ Isn’t it true, Mr. Grafton,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ that 
the entire country has been benefited by the operations of 
the Standard Oil Company?” 

“ Well, I’m bound to admit, Mr. Van Kirk,” said Mr. 
Mr. Grafton, “ that I’m able to buy coal oil now for eight 
cents a gallon, and I used to have to pay thirty-five cents a 
gallon for oil that was not half as good. But what I object 
to is that the Standard Oil Company should be running the 
whole shooting match.” 

“ I fear the operations of the Standard Oil Company are 
not well understood,” replied Mr. Van Kirk, “ what I mean 
is that the Standard Oil Company has not only cheapened 


A Story of the Times 


ioi 


the oil that you consume by reducing the cost of manufac- 
turing it, but it has, by employing its vast capital, developed 
a hundred or more enterprises depending entirely upon the 
coal oil output. For instance, anilines for coloring pur- 
poses, medicines of great usefulness and of great variety, 
and an endless number of enterprises have grown up, giv- 
ing employment to thousands of people and conferring 
blessings on everybody. Besides this the Company has 
created a foreign trade that brings millions of dollars into 
the United States for its enrichment. Wherever coal oil 
is supposed to exist, there the Company’s energies and 
capital are directed. For example, if you should discover 
coal oil on your ranch the Company would at once make a 
contract with you for every barrel you could produce, and 
pay you a reasonable price for it. In this way the Com- 
pany is giving employment to tens of thousands of people 
all over the country. There are perhaps thousands of 
farmers in the different States who were comparatively poor 
until they were encouraged to put down coal oil wells on 
their farms by the Standard Oil Company. So that it may 
be, I think, honestly and reasonably concluded, that on 
the whole the Standard Oil Company has been a great 
blessing to mankind.” 

“ But, isn’t it true, Mr. Van Kirk,” asked Mr. Grafton, 
“ that the Republican party has favored laws like the high 
tariff law which has been a fruitful source of trusts?” 

“ I have thought about this considerably, but I have not 
been able to satisfy my mind that tariff legislation has any- 
thing to do with the creation of trusts,” replied Mr. Van 
Kirk. “ The very fact that trusts exist in England where 
free trade is almost absolute, proves to my mind that 
tariff legislation has nothing to do with the origin of trusts. 
There are two things that every one should keep in mind, 
it seems to me, in considering the subject of trusts: first, 
that trusts are organized only when times are good; and, 
second, that since the organization of trusts in the United 
States, nearly every commodity handled by a trust is cheap- 


102 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


er now than it was before. I might add that, if Mr. Gomp- 
ers and other prominent men in the labor union are correct 
in their views, that trusts increase the demand for labor and 
maintain a higher and more uniform standard of wages. 
For this reason most of the labor unions, if not all in the 
country, are in favor of trusts.” 

“ You present this subject in a way that sets me to think- 
ing,” said Mr. Grafton. “ I don’t know after all of any 
trust that really hurts the farmer or stock raiser, and hence 
I don’t see why we should look upon them as menacing our 
interests, or threatening the interests of the country gen- 
erally. What do you think of imperialism, Mr. Van Kirk?” 

“ To answer you briefly,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ I would 
say that the hue and cry about imperialism is purely for 
campaign purposes. There may be a few people who really 
believe that there are Republicans in power who would foist 
upon this country what they are pleased to call imperialism. 
But you know the same cry was raised against Washington, 
and in a certain sense of the word against President Jack- 
son, and still later against President Grant. If you will 
take the pains to read the political history of the period 
covering Washington’s time you will find that his enemies 
charged him with imperialistic tendencies, and even went so 
far as to declare if he wqs entrusted with power he would 
use it to enthrone himself as king and to make vassals of the 
people. There were many intelligent people who actually 
believed that he would do this, but now people laugh at the 
very idea. General Jackson was charged with imperial 
ideas because he threatened to visit prompt and severe pun- 
ishment upon certain men in South Carolina for threatening 
nullification. There were a great many people in this 
country who warned the people against voting for Grant 
for President because he was a military man, flushed with 
victory, and that as sure as he was elected he would pro- 
claim himself an emperor, with imperial powers; that he 
would use the army, which had obeyed him so many years 
implicitly, to overthrow the liberties of the people and re- 


A Story of the Times 103 

duce them to a state of vassalage. And there were doubt- 
less a great many people who believed this campaign rot. 
The fact is that any man or set of men who would propose 
a policy that looked to their imperial aggrandizement, or to 
any serious modification of the liberties of the people, 
would be hurled from power instantly by an indignant na- 
tion. Every man and woman in this broad land loves the 
Republic, loves its Constitution, loves its flag, and it would 
be practically sure death for any man to propose their over- 
throw. Imperialism is absolutely impossible in this 
country. President McKinley fought for the Union, fought 
for the flag, fought for the rights of not only the white peo- 
ple of this country, the free people of the country, but for all 
of the people without regard to color or previous condition. 
He would no more consent to a policy that would impair 
the liberties of the people or weaken the institutions of the 
country, than he would consent to a wholesale slaughter of 
the mothers and the children of the country. Seven-eighths 
of the Union soldiers and sailors who fought with him for 
the Union, the stars and stripes and universal equality be- 
fore the law, voted for him for President in 1896, and will 
vote for him again in 1900. Will any one have the hardi- 
hood to say that this grand army of men who passed 
through the fires of war for the liberties of the people could 
be induced to support a man or a proposition favoring im- 
perialism? Impossible! Those who make the charge know 
it to be false. On the other hand many of the leaders of 
the movement which has emblazoned upon its banners as a 
paramount issue of the campaign, ‘ Anti-Imperialism,’ are 
men who voted and fought for principles of imperialism; 
men who risked their lives and everything they possessed 
to erect a confederacy based upon the principles of im- 
perialism; men who shot at President McKinley and the 
brave men who stood side by side with him battling for 
universal liberty; men who to-day wear red shirts in North 
Carolina and with guns and pistols and knives deprive 
American citizens of their rights under the Constitution 


104 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

and before the law; men who have put into the State Con- 
stitutions of ten States articles which disfranchise Ameri- 
can citizens, and condemn them to a condition in which they 
are governed without their consent. These are the men 
who are leading the so-called anti-imperialistic movement; 
who undertake to make the people of this country believe 
that they are the champions of liberty, of freedom, of equal 
rights. These are the men who tell you that your liberty 
is endangered, that your rights are menaced, that the 
country is on the brink of ruin, that your safety can be as- 
sured only by following them. Does it not appear, Mr. 
Grafton, in the light of these facts, that the cry of imperial- 
ism by such men is purely and wholly campaign bun- 
combe? ” 

“ You put it in a pretty strong light,” answered Mr. 
Grafton, “ and you may be right. But somehow I can’t 
help thinking that we ought not to force the Filipinos into 
accepting the authority of the United States against their 
will.” 

“What would you do under the circumstances?” said 
Mr. Van Kirk. “ Would you haul down the flag we hoist- 
ed over Manila after we destroyed the power of the Spanish 
nation in Manila Bay, and after the sovereignty of the island 
was transferred to us by treaty? By the victory of our 
arms and by treaty we acquired national rights in the Phil- 
ippine Islands. Nobody can dispute this, and before we 
had time to consider a rational proposition from citizens of 
the Island, an army of Filipinos fired on our flag and shot 
down our soldiers without cause and without provocation. 
In fact, they did this when we were actually considering 
how to give them independence, and at the same time pro- 
tect our interests as a nation, the interests of American 
citizens resident in the island, and how to maintain law and 
order there for the protection of citizens and interests of 
other nations, who, under international law, had a right 
to demand of us that we give at least as much protection as 
had been assured them by the Spanish nation. This we are 


A Story of the Times 


105 


bound to do by virtue of the obligations imposed on the 
Government by its success in the war with Spain, by its 
treaty obligations, by international law, by its duty to its 
own citizens and by the requirements of civilization. When 
these obligations are discharged, and the hostile forces in 
the islands are reduced to a condition to recognize the au- 
thority of the United States, it will remain for - Congress 
to determine what shall be done with the Filipinos. If any 
right minded man can see imperialism in this he must have 
a very distorted vision.’’ 

“ But do you think that we need all of these islands?” 
asked Mr. Grafton. 

“ My best reply to that question, is, I think, that the 
growth of the United States has been such within the last 
twenty-five years that our physical safety as a nation, and 
the business interests of the country demand that we should 
have a permanent foothold in the islands we have acquired. 
Besides we need them for naval and coaling stations, and 
bases for naval and military operations, and as great depots 
from which to supply promptly the demands of commerce. 
To meet the competition of trade in the far East we must 
have such depots in the Philippine Islands; and the prompt- 
ness with which we were able to send men and vessels to 
the relief of Americans and American interests in China, 
must convince every thoughtful man that we cannot afford 
to give up the Philippine Islands. Any other view than 
this, it seems to me, is narrow and short sighted. The 
older we become and the larger our interests become the 
more valuable will be Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip- 
pine Islands to us. I am satisfied that within a few years 
the entire nation will feel grateful, as we all do now for the 
Louisiana purchase, for the acquisition of these islands. 
Intelligent and well meaning men opposed sharply the 
Louisiana purchase, the purchase of Alaska, yet everyone 
now applauds the action that made this territory part of 
the United States. A great many intelligent and patriotic 
men opposed the accession of the Hawaiian Islands to the 


io6 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


United States. The proposition was rejected by the Demo- 
cratic party. Yet within a period of three years the people, 
without respect to party, have come to realize that it was 
wise and statesmanlike to annex them to the United States. 
So far as imperialism is concerned in connection with these 
islands it is simply and utterly out of the question, because 
whatever permanent policy is adopted by the United States 
towards these islands must be approved by Congress. The 
great business concerns of the country are not so much 
interested in what a few men think of expansion or im- 
perialism, for they know that the politicians use these words 
as the Chinese soldiers use their gongs in battle, for the 
purpose of scaring somebody, but the real issue in this cam- 
paign is that of 1896 — free silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. 
Mr. Bryan and those who are with him are endeavoring by 
indirection to win what they failed to do by direction four 
years ago. Their howl against trusts and imperialism is 
simply to distract and to deceive. This is what the business 
men of the country are afraid of, and this is why the men 
who are really the business pushers of the country will vote 
solidly against the Kansas City candidate. There was 
hardly a business man of any prominence in the Kansas 
City Convention which nominated Mr. Bryan. The con- 
vention was dominated by men who have never been in any 
way identified with an enterprise that has made this nation 
great. Not a single man in the convention appears in the 
commercial history of the United States, covering its grand 
progress during the last twenty-five years. The conven- 
tion was actually composed of theorists, wild-eyed cranks, 
ward politicians and keen manipulators like Boss Croker 
of New York. Just look at the whole situation as you 
would look at a business proposition, and you will hardly 
consider it the duty of any honest man to support the 
Kansas City Platform and ticket. Of course, I do not say 
this to influence you to change your opinions or your vote, 
but because you asked me for my views.” 

“ Yes,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ I did ask you for your 


A Story of the Times 


107 


views, and I thank you for giving them to me in such a 
straightforward way. While you have not spared my party 
in the least, I feel sure you would not have imposed your 
views upon me uninvited, and I’m not sure but what you 
have said some things that will enable me to think more 
clearly, and perhaps more rationally on the questions that 
are now being forced to the front in the campaign. I am 
disposed to think more and more that we ought to have 
stuck to the free silver issue and let the question of im- 
perialism alone.” 



r 


io8 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


CHAPTER XL 

A Startling Revelation to Mr. Van Kirk. 

After dinner Mr. Grafton invited his guest to go with 
him to the barn and stock sheds to look over the stock. 
It was the daily custom of Mr. Grafton to inspect his 
stock, to see that all of their needs had been looked after 
by the hired help, and to gratify the fondness, characteristic 
of all stock men, for actually associating with their horses 
and cattle. Mr. Van Kirk, as has already been intimated, 
was very fond of finely bred horses and cattle, and he was 
very glad of the opportunity to accompany Mr. Grafton. 
He became very much interested in a bunch of Holstein 
yearlings and lingered over them after Mr. Grafton had 
left him to visit other stock. Acting upon the suggestion 
of Mr. Grafton, that he take his own time and visit such 
sheds or parts of the barn as might strike his fancy, he 
went from the Holsteins to the barn where there were some 
very fine young Percherons. While looking at these he 
overheard loud and animated conversation which came to 
him through a partition in the barn. He was an unwilling 
listener at first, but when he heard the name of Virginia 
spoken he became a willing listener. 

“ If you don’t use your influence to compel Virginia to 
consent to marry me,” he heard spoken in an unfamiliar 
voice, “ I’ll put the mortgage on file and sue on the note 
immediately. I’ll take everything covered by the mort- 
gage and will give you no quarter. I have my suspicions 
about that sleek fellow from New Jersey you have hanging 
around here, and I don’t propose to smother my love for 
your daughter, and stand by sucking my thumb while he 
gets in his work. Now, Grafton, I’ve been a good friend 


A Story of the Times 109 

to you when you needed a friend, and I was a disinterested 
one, too, and I want you to do the right thing by me. I 
love your daughter, and will make her a good husband, 
and I will see that you and Mrs. Grafton never want for 
anything — if — ” 

“You get out of here, you coldblooded scoundrel,” ex- 
claimed Mr. Grafton excitedly, “ or I’ll run this pitchfork 
through you.” 

“ Don’t come at me with that,” was the reply in the un- 
familiar voice, “ or I’ll puncture your ungrateful skin too 
quick. I’m fully prepared for you.” 

“ Yes, you go armed in a peaceful neighborhood, and 
dare to draw your gun on me, an old man, which shows 
you are a miserable coward, but you can’t scare me, nor 
make me yield a single point by your threats. You can 
take all the property I have, but you can’t make me con- 
sent to a dishonorable proposition; so do your best, Moore; 
but, I’ll have you understand that no Grafton will ever 
knuckle to a scoundrel and coward like you. Besides, I 
will tell you that my daughter despises you, and would 
no more think of marrying you than she would think of 
marrying a snake.” 

“ Before I get through with you,” replied the other, “ I’ll 
show you that you can’t tread on this snake with impunity. 
You’ll repent this before twenty-four hours have rolled over 
your ungrateful head.” 

This seemed to end the conversation and the footsteps 
of one of the speakers were distinctly heard by Van Kirk 
retreating towards the door of the barn. Mr. Van Kirk, 
was, as may well be imagined, very much agitated by* what 
he had overheard. He had been, without any intention on 
his part, placed in a position to overhear what was not 
intended for his ears. What in honor should he do? He 
quickly made up his mind what a frank and honorable 
man should do, and he immediately sought Mr. Grafton 
for the purpose of carrying out his intentions. He found 
him in another part of the barn leaning over a manger 


no 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


looking m a painfully abstracted way at a horse,. He was 
pale and trembling from head to foot, and when spoken to 
by Mr. Van Kirk, he looked around in a dazed sort of way. 

“ Mr. Grafton,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ I was forced to 
hear the conversation you just now had with some man 
you called Moore. I deem it my duty to tell you that I 
heard every word that passed between you.” 

“ I am sorry that you heard any part of the conversation, 
Mr. Van Kirk,” replied Mr, Grafton, who was making a 
heroic effort to regain his composure, “ I’m very sorry 
that anything has happened to mar the pleasure of your 
visit here. I hope it will not — but — but, I — I feel humiliated, 
and I know that you will not continue to enjoy your visit 
with us.” 

“ Do not concern yourself, I pray you,” responded Mr. 
Van Kirk, “ about my enjoyment. That is a secondary 
consideration. It is your happiness and the happiness of 
your family that is more directly involved. At any rate 
it seems so to me from what has happened just now, and I 
am more concerned in that, if you will pardon me for say- 
ing so, than in my own enjoyment.” 

“ You speak like a true bred gentleman, sir, and I be- 
lieve you are one,” replied Mr. Grafton, “ but do not allow 
what you have heard pass between me and that scoun- 
drel Moore, to disturb you in any way,” and he wiped 
large drops of perspiration from his face and looked at 
Mr. Van Kirk as if he would read his innermost thoughts, 
to reassure himself that he could trust him. His experi- 
ence with Moore had begun to unsettle his confidence in 
every man. 

“ I don’t want to be obtrusive, Mr. Grafton,” said Mr. 
Van Kirk, “ nor offensive in any way, but I would like to 
ask you if the Moore who was just now talking with you 
and using such unmanly, and what appeared to me to be, 
indecent language, is the same Moore we called on to- 
day? ” 

“ Yes, it is the same,” answered Mr. Grafton. 


A Story of the Times hi 

“ I am surprised beyond expression,” said Mr. Van 
Kirk. 

“ This is not the first time,” said Mr. Grafton, “ that he 
has approached me offensively on the subject of marrying 
my daughter. She rejected his offer of marriage, and 
then he tried to get me to persuade her to change her 
mind. I politely but firmly told him that that was impos- 
sible; that while she was my daughter, yet it was not 
within my right to dictate to her whom she should marry. 
I had hoped that the matter was ended, although he created 
some alarm and misgivings in my mind by what he said 
at that time.” 

“ Will you tell me as a friend, Mr. Grafton,” said Mr. 
Van Kirk, “ what hold he has on you? I heard him say 
he would take everything in the way of property you pos- 
sessed if it was necessary to get even with you.” This 
was said in such a kindly tone of voice that the question was 
robbed of whatever inquisitiveness there was in it. Mr. 
Grafton seemed to take this view of the question and an- 
swered : 

“ Yes, I will tell you, that you may know all,” replied Mr. 
Grafton. “ I was a candidate for Congress and was anx- 
ious, of course, to win. He voluntarily offered to loan me 
money to meet my campaign expenses and I was foolish 
enough to borrow from him three thousand dollars. I 
gave him a mortgage on my personalty as security. At the 
time he assured me that he would not record the mortgage 
and as he had no special need of the money, I could take 
all the time I wished to pay the debt. He encouraged me 
to believe, as others did, that if I made a vigorous canvass 
I would be elected, and would then soon have money 
enough to take up the note. But I was beaten and the debt 
is hanging over me. I shall sell off my property, even if 
I have to make sacrifices, and pay this debt. I shall not 
consider the consequences— this debt must be paid. When 
my wife and daughter know all they will join me in this 
determination.” 


1 12 


The Homesteader's Daughter 


“ I can understand, now, Mr. Grafton," observed Mr. 
Van Kirk, “ where your noble daughter gets some of her 
courage; and I assure you I honor you for the course you 
have taken in this whole matter." 

“ I certainly thank you," replied Mr. Grafton, “ for these 
words. They strengthen me in my purpose." 

It was with considerable effort the brave man suppressed 
the emotion which seemed about to unman him. 

“ This man Moore said you would have to take care of 
your paper within twenty-four hours," said Mr,. Van Kirk, 
“ supposing, of course, it would be impossible for you to 
do it. I will let you have the money with which to take 
up this paper, and as much more as you may need, on one 
condition." 

“ This is unexpected kindness, sir," exclaimed Mr. 
Grafton, “but I cannot consider your generous offer. You 
are a stranger to me and mine comparatively, and you are 
under no obligations to aid me in the way you propose." 

“Yes," eagerly replied Mr. Van Kirk, “I think I have 
sufficient reason to want to help you, and if you will accept 
my help, and promise me one thing, you shall soon be out 
of the clutches of this unscrupulous man." 

“ Your earnestness and frankness, Mr. Van Kirk," said 
Mr. Grafton, “ almost persuade me to consider your offer. 
I afn so undone that I am hardly fit to decide what to do 
in the matter. But tell me what I must promise." 

“ Simply," said Mr. Van Kirk, “ that you will not say a 
word about what I have offered to do, to your wife and 
daughter." 

“ It has been the custom of my life," replied Mr. Grafton, 
“ to tell my wife everything about my business affairs, and 
since Virginia has been old enough she has also shared my 
confidence. I departed from this rule when I borrowed 
money from Moore, and I vowed then never to do it again." 

“ The reason I ask you, my good friend," said Mr. Van 
Kirk, “ not to say anything to your wife and daughter is, 
that with your consent, I shall ask your daughter to con- 


A Story of the Times. 


ii3 

sider an offer of marriage from me; and if she knows of 
this she will be in no position to entertain such a proposi- 
tion from me. She will think, and have good reason to do 
so, that I had a sinister motive in letting you have the 
money. I disavow any such motive to you, and I think it 
is due her and me that she shall know nothing about it.” 

“ You are a man of honor, sir,” exclaimed Mr. Grafton, 
“ but I hesitate to consent to the arrangement, though 
generous and disinterested it is.” 

Mr. Van Kirk was anxious to follow up the advantage 
he had gained, and lest Mr. Grafton should yet decide 
against him he quickly said: 

“ I take it that the matter is closed, Mr. Grafton, and that 
you will accept my aid. I am anxious and ready to go 
with you to Mr.. Moore to-morrow and release you from 
every obligation you are under to him.” 

It was a great struggle for Mr. Grafton. He trembled 
from head to foot, like one in an ague. He tried to speak, 
but seemed unable to do so. At last he held out his hand 
to Mr. Van Kirk as if in despair, and willing to be helped 
by any friendly hand. He finally gasped in scarcely audible 
words: 

“ I will accept your friendship — I will accept your help 
— and God bless you, as my heart struggles to do, and as 
my wife and daughter will when they are permitted to 
know what a generous thing you have done.” 

After this effort on the part of Mr. Grafton, Mr. Van 
Kirk had to really support him to keep him from falling. 
He was ashen pale, and as weak as if he had just risen from 
a bed of fever. Mr. Van Kirk begged him to be seated 
and not to give way to his feelings; and then hurriedly 
brought some cold water from the well and gave him to 
drink, and bathed his forehead, the veins and arteries of 
which stood out like whipcords. Presently he recovered 
sufficiently to walk into the open air, and by the time they 
reached the house, in a roundabout way, was quite himself. 

Virginia had returned from her school, and the greeting 


1 14 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

between Mr, Grafton and his daughter showed how strong 
and sweet was the affection between them. 

She held out her hand to Mr. Van Kirk, which he took 
with more of satisfaction than she divined. 

“ I am really pleased to find you looking so well after 
what must have been a very fatiguing ride,” said Virginia 
to Mr. Van Kirk. “ Father is such an enthusiast over the 
beautiful prairie, and the stock to be found on the ranches 
around us that he is apt to overdo'.” 

“I feel splendidly,” replied Mr. Van Kirk, “and think 
my buoyant and vigorous feelings are largely due to the 
way I have spent my day. I scarcely recall a day in my 
life fullef of more genuine pleasure. The never-ending 
beauty of landscape, the mellow sunshine, and the great 
variety of fine stock have filled the measure of my enjoy- 
ment during the day to overflowing. I have certainly en- 
joyed it all more than I can easily express.” 

The rosy cheeks and bright eyes of Virginia were addi- 
tional evidence of the exhilarating qualities of the prairie 
air and the splendor of the day. Mr. Van Kirk thought he 
had never seen a sweeter face nor one of more character. 
He was really hopelessly in love with her the first day. To 
be sure he had not far to go, for he had fallen in love with 
her before he left home. . 

The evening passed off pleasantly. Virginia read in her 
usually charming way, and the conversation was full of life 
and interest. These evening readings had become a part 
of the home life, and her father particularly seemed to 
look forward to this part of the evening program with an 
eager interest. His eyes were somewhat weak, and his 
daughter found real pleasure in reading to him, besides it 
was a recreation to her after the routine of her school work. 

Noticing a guitar in the corner of the room, Mr. Van 
Kirk inquired of Virginia if she played, and being answered 
in the affirmative, he asked her to play. She readily con- 
sented, and played and sang very sweetly, although she 
protested that he must not be too critical as she had been, 


A Story of the Times 


ii5 

for the most part, her own teacher. In truth, she played 
and sang so well that Mr. Van Kirk, who was a very good 
musician himself, was well pleased with her performance. 
He joined in several of her songs with a rich bass voice 
which blended delightfully with Virginia’s contralto, and 
the Grafton home was given a musical treat that evening 
which it had never enjoyed before. 

Once during the evening Mr. Grafton was somewhat 
startled by what seemed to him to be a pair of eyes peering 
through the window under the drawn curtain. He said 
nothing about it, and dismissed the matter from his mind, 
thinking that it was undoubtedly the result of the excite- 
ment through which he had passed during the day. After 
retiring, however, those eyes haunted him, and several 
times he was on the verge of leaving his bed to investigate 
and, if possible, determine whether any one was prowling 
about. He finally persuaded himself to believe that it was 
only a fancy, and he fell asleep. 

The Grafton family occupied rooms in the second story, 
and Mr. Van Kirk, as has been stated, was given the spare 
bedroom off the parlor. The windows of this room came 
well down to the floor and opened on a porch running 
across the entire south end of the house. After retiring 
to his room, Mr,. Van Kirk, upon extinguishing his lamp, 
sat down near one of the windows and looked out into the 
starlit sky. He was in a romantic state of mind and en- 
joyed the quietude of his surroundings. As he looked out 
of his window at the stars they seemed more beautifully 
brilliant than they had ever appeared to him before. He 
compared them to. the bright eyes of Virginia, and ad- 
mitted to himself that the stars lost by the comparison. He 
realized how more than ever before that his life was bound 
up with hers — that he loved her, and he trembled at the 
thought which flashed through his mind that when the test 
came she might not return his love. His love for her was 
not without a practical side, for he was eager that the 
morrow should come when he could perform his promise 


n6 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

to her father, . and thereby render a service of substantial 
value to the daughter. He sat thus for an hour or more 
in the darkness of his room gazing at the diamonds of the 
heavens, and listening in a way as if wooing from them 
some evidence that his love, when he should declare it, 
would not be turned aside. He was happier than he had 
ever been in his life. He could account for this only 
by the thought that he was near her, yes, under the same 
roof with her. His heart declared that Virginia was the 
queen who wielded the sceptre of irresistible power over 
it, and forced him to confess that he was ready to serve her 
as a willing subject all through life. He asked himself, 
“Why should she not love one so devoted as this?” He 
half believed that 'she did; and having argued himself by 
this sort of heart reasoning to so happy a conclusion, he 
prepared for bed without lighting the lamp, and was soon 
wrapped in peaceful and refreshing slumber. 


A Story of the Times 


ii 7 


CHAPTER XII. 

The Debt Discharged. 

After breakfast Mr,. Grafton and Mr. Van Kirk rode with 
Virginia to the schoolhouse and then went directly to the 
Moore ranch, where they found Mr. Moore and his super- 
intendent busily engaged in the office. Mr. Moore re- 
ceived them with his usual politeness, and invited them to 
the residence. 

“ No, we have not time to accept of your invitation, this 
morning,” said Mr. Grafton. “ I have come over to take 
up my note in accordance with your demand that it be 
paid within twenty-four hours.” 

Mr. Moore looked surprised, and then his face took on 
an expression that had in it the elements of deadly hatred 
and revenge. He quickly asserted his mastery over his 
feelings, however, and replied blandly that he would be glad 
to attend to the business at once. 

He directed his superintendent to get the note and mort- 
gage out of the safe which stood in one corner of the room, 
near which was the superintendent's desk, and that func- 
tionary pretended to obey, but the quick eye of Mr. Van 
Kirk detected the pretense, and noted the fact that the 
papers were already on the desk of Mr. Moore. This sug- 
gested to Mr, Van Kirk that the papers had been taken 
out earlier in the morning for the purpose of carrying out 
the threat Mr. Moore had made in the barn the day before. 

The interest was computed and agreed to by the parties, 
and Mr. Grafton laid down three certified checks of one 
thousand dollars each which had been endorsed to him by 
Mr. Van Kirk. He also laid on the table enough currency 
to cover the amount of the interest. 

Mr. Moore looked at the checks, and a scowl, full of 


Ii8 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

malevolence, flashed over his face, but he quickly resumed 
his mechanical smile and said: 

“ I do not know Mr. Van Kirk well enough to accept 
his checks, notwithstanding they are to all appearances 
regularly certified. I would prefer cash, Mr. Grafton.” 

Mr. Grafton looked at Mr, Van Kirk as if he was' at a loss 
for an answer. The latter noticing the embarrassment of 
Mr. Grafton, quickly replied: 

“ If the checks are not acceptable to Mr. Moore it will 
be necessary for us to go to a bank and have them cashed.” 
He then asked Mr. Grafton if they would be able to go to the 
nearest bank where the business could be attended to and 
be back to Mr. Moore’s ranch by evening. 

“ It will be necessary to go to the county seat, which will 
take up most of the day,” said Mr. Grafton, “ but we can 
be back by four o’clock, I think.” 

“ Will that be agreeable to you, Mr. Moore? ” asked Mr. 
Van Kirk. 

“Yes, I reckon that will do,” replied Mr. Moore doggedly. 

“ Very well, then,” answered Mr. Van Kirk, “ we shall 
be here at four o’clock tO' meet you and conclude the 
business.” 

The two gentlemen drove over to the station and took 
the first train to the county seat, twelve miles away. Mr. 
Grafton introduced his friend to the bank officials and the 
checks were cashed without delay. They were compelled 
to wait some time for a train going in their direction. One 
came, however, in time to put them down at their station in 
time for them to drive out to the Moore ranch by four 
o’clock. 

The note and mortgage were taken up by Mr. Grafton, 
and he and Mr. Van Kirk were soon on their way to the 
Grafton ranch. The conduct of Mr. Moore when the 
money was paid over was so brusque that Mr. Van Kirk 
felt it his duty to treat him with a cold formality bordering 
closely on disdain, Mr. Grafton left the office without 
even saying good-bye to Mr. Moore, who looked wickedly 


A Story of the Times 119 

enough at Mr. Van Kirk to suggest that he would be only 
too well pleased if he could do him bodily injury. On then- 
way home Mr. Van Kirk remarked to Mr. Grafton that he 
had never seen a more wicked countenance in all his travels. 

Mr. Grafton was so full of gratitude to Mr. Van Kirk 
that he could hardly speak. He undertook to express his 
gratitude several times, but the effort was too much for 
him, and his feelings were more eloquently expressed in 
the tears which rolled do>vn his cheeks. Mr. Van Kirk 
noticing this said: 

“ My dear Mr. Grafton, I know what you would say, 
but it is quite unnecessary that you should say a single 
word. What I have done is a very small thing for one 
friend to do for another when he is as well able to do it 
as I am. I assure you it has given me genuine pleasure; 
indeed, enough pleasure to liquidate both principal and 
interest.” He said this in a voice so full of frankness and 
sincerity that it carried conviction with it. Mr. Grafton 
by great effort replied: 

“I am truly grateful, and I want you to know it.” 

“ I do know it, Mr. Grafton,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ and 
that is enough.” 

They found supper ready for them on their return. Vir- 
ginia was at the gate to welcome them and greeted her 
father in her usually affectionate manner, and gave Mr. 
Van Kirk so cordial a greeting that in his ecstasy a vision 
passed before him of greetings yet to come. Certain it was 
he truly appreciated the welcome and showed it very plainly 
in his happy face and satisfied manner. 

The evening was passed in much the same way as the 
preceding one, only Mr.. Van Kirk, at the request of Vir- 
ginia narrated in his exquisite style experiences he had 
had in his travels in foreign lands. These narrations were 
intensely interesting to all of his hearers, but Virginia found 
in them an interest peculiarly her own. She had never 
heard a person so interesting and profitably entertaining 
in her whole life. She was simply charmed with their guest. 


120 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


CHAPTER XIII. 

The Revenge of Disappointed Love. 

When the hour came for the family to retire Mr. Van 
Kirk went to his room and flung himself on the floor by 
the window where he had communed with the stars the 
night before. He again looked up into those mysterious 
brilliants of the universe. They had a greater attraction 
for him than ever before, and shed a light into his heart 
that illumined his whole being. His soul was filled with 
the majesty of the heavens, and he was thrilled with the 
wonder of the skies, but the glory of it all seemed to him to 
revolve arounfl the face and soul of Virginia. While thus 
giving full sway to the poesy of his nature, and indulging 
to an intoxicating degree, the imagery of his soul, he was 
suddenly disturbed and brought to earth again by stealthy 
footsteps which he distinctly heard on the porch outside 
and near his window. His first impulse was to light his 
lamp, but on second thought he determined not to do it, 
and instead arose and noiselessly took a position at one 
side of the window where he could discern any object dimly 
outside without being seen himself. His handbag stood 
on the table near him, containing a revolver and knife, 
which he had carried with him in his travels, and which he 
had never been called upon to use but once, when he had 
doubtless saved his life in defending himself against an at- 
tack of brigands in the mountains of Italy. Why he at- 
tached any importance to the footsteps he had heard he 
hardly knew. Somehow the noise had conveyed to him a 
strange fear. Possibly it was because of the high nervous 
tension caused by the exciting events of the last 24 hours. 
The reference of Mr. Moore to himself in the conversation 
overheard in the barn had made a deep impression on him, 


A Story of the Times 


121 


not of fear of the man so much as a kind of conviction that 
he would do him harm if he had an opportunity, not openly, 
but by some underhanded means. He had come to feel that 
he must be on his guard against this man. As soon as he 
heard the footsteps the sense of fear which came over him 
was at once associated with the man from whose unscrupu- 
lous power he had delivered Mr. Grafton. In the shadow of 
the house and of two large spruce pines which stood near the 
edge of the porch, it was difficult to distinctly discern any 
object on the porch. He waited for a few seconds almost 
breathlessly, when he saw dimly the outlines of two men 
standing close under one of the trees referred to. One of 
them slunk back and half buried himself in the dense 
branches of the tree, while the other in a half stooped pos- 
ture, with a cat-like tread, approached the window. Mr. 
Van Kirk could not make out the features, but he was sat- 
isfied that the approaching figure bore a marked resem- 
blance to Mr. Moore. The man examined the window 
closely and then withdrew to the figure concealed in the 
tree. The two men appeared to be holding a consultation. 

Mr. Van Kirk had almost made up his mind to call Mr. 
Grafton down stairs that they might go out together and 
ascertain, if possible, the object of the intruders. On more 
mature thought, however, he concluded not to disturb the 
family and to await further developments. He thought it 
more than possible that the resemblance he saw between 
one of the men and Mr. Moore was due to imagination, and 
that it was more than likely the men were tramps hunting 
a place to lodge for the night. The state of the weather, 
however, tended to preclude this idea, and he determined 
to remain dressed and to keep himself in readiness for any- 
thing that might happen. He sat down on a chair near the 
window and waited. He had not long to wait when he 
heard the footsteps again approaching the window. As 
nearly as he could make out it was the same man who first 
approached and examined the window. The only differ- 
ence observable was that the man did not assume the 


122 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


crouching posture of the first one. He seemed more bold 
in his movements, and acted like one who had assured him- 
self that the coast was clear. Presently, Mr. Van Kirk 
distinctly heard a scratch on the window pane very much 
like that made by the diamond of a glazier. Mr. Van Kirk 
soon discovered that the man was really cutting the window 
glass with a diamond. As the work progressed Mr. Van 
Kirk became satisfied that the man intended to effect an 
entrance into the room by cutting a hole in the glass so 
as to enable him to push back the sash lock. The scratch- 
ing ceased and the man placed against the glass a round 
black object which he pressed against the pane firmly with 
his hand for some seconds. Then followed a sharp, quick 
tap and a current of cold air rushed into the room through 
what was evidently a hole in the glass made by the clever 
work of the would-be burglar. 

By this time the purpose of the men was so well defined 
that Mr. Van Kirk realized that he must act. His fear had 
deserted him, and he was thinking and feeling as deliber- 
ately as if no danger threatened him. His first thought 
was to shoot down the burglar through the window. This 
course, however, would arouse the family and give unneces- 
sary alarm to Mrs. Grafton and her daughter. This quickly 
determined him not to use his revolver, and he took out of 
his bag the heavy knife already alluded to. The man had 
inserted a part of his hand through the hole in the window 
and was endeavoring to move to one side the lock. For 
some reason the lock was not easily displaced, yet the man 
persevered as if he felt confident that the lock would yield 
to his manipulation in time. Mr. Van Kirk took a favor- 
able position, and raised his knife above the burglar’s hand 
and quickly brought its sharp edge down upon the inserted 
fingers, and then sprang back to one side away from the 
window. The burglar gave a distinct exclamation of pain, 
and with one bound joined his companion against the trees. 
Two quick flashes of light were almost instantaneously fol- 
lowed by two distinct pistol reports. The bullets crashed 


A Story of the Times 


123 


through the window and were distinctly heard to embed 
themselves in the wall of the room. Two other shots fol- 
lowed quickly, and the rapidly receding footsteps of the 
two men were heard by Mr. Van Kirk, who threw up the 
window and sprang out on the porch and followed in the 
direction of the fleeing men. He had reached the end of 
the porch when two more shots were fired from the road- 
way. Before the flash of the revolvers had disappeared, 
Mr. Van Kirk had discharged his revolver several times 
hoping to get at least one of the men who was exposed by 
the flash of his pistol. Other shots were exchanged when 
the burglars rode hurriedly away on horseback. After the 
first shot fired by Mr. Van Kirk he threw himself flat on 
the ground to be less exposed to the return fire. The battle 
being over for the time being, Mr. Van Kirk returned to his 
room where he found Mr. Grafton and the ladies in a high 
state of excitement. Virginia, however, was the calmest 
of the three, and at once began to question Mr. Van Kirk 
as to what had happened. He hurriedly explained what 
had taken place, and treated the matter so calmly and so 
lightly that it greatly relieved the situation of its tragical 
effects. Suddenly, however, Virginia noticed two severed 
fingers lying on the floor. Her attention was drawn to 
them by the reflection of a diamond ring on one of the 
fingers. Upon holding the light nearer to the ghastly 
scene she gave a startled cry and said: 

“ I cannot be mistaken. It is surely his ring.” 

She was so much overcome that she looked like one in a 
faint. Mr. Van Kirk quickly caught her in his arms and 
asked Mr. Grafton to hand him some water. Before the 
water was brought, however, Virginia had recovered her- 
self and begged them to not be concerned on her account. 
Mrs. Grafton was so greatly alarmed that it was with much 
difficulty that she . was quieted. Virginia noticed blood 
trickling down one of Mr. Van Kirk’s hands and she ex- 
claimed: 

“ Why, Mr. Van Kirk, you are wounded,” and she point- 


124 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


ed to his hand which was covered with blood. He looked 
at his hand and remarked that it could not be much of a 
wound for he had not felt any pain on account of it. Vir- 
ginia fetched some water and a towel while Mr. Van Kirk 
removed his coat, and it was discovered that he had re- 
ceived a flesh wound between the elbow and the shoulder. 
Virginia washed the arm and wound while Mrs. Grafton 
brought an antiseptic from the medicine cabinet. Virginia 
insisted on doing the role of surgeon, and as a result of 
her skill and deftness the wound was soon dressed in a 
manner that would have done credit to a more experienced 
nurse. 


There was no more sleep in the Grafton house that night. 
Mr. Van Kirk urged the ladies to retire and get some sleep, 
assuring them that the danger was over, and that he and 
Mr. Grafton, in order to give them greater assurance, 
would stand guard till daylight. But Mrs. Grafton and 
Virginia insisted that it was their duty to remain up and 
share with Mr. Van Kirk and Mr. Grafton whatever of 
danger might come during the rest of the night. 

After the household had become somewhat quieted, Mr. 
Van Kirk said: 

“ Miss Grafton, when you saw the severed fingers of the 
would-be burglar you made a remark respecting the ring 
on one of the fingers which was somewhat suggestive.” 

“ Yes, I remarked, I believe, that I could not be mis- 
taken, it must be his, or something like that,” answered 
Virginia. “ I simply meant that the diamond ring on one 
of the fingers lying on the floor, which had been severed by 
your dextrous use of the knife, was a ring that Mr. Moore 
had been wearing ever since I have known him. I am sure 
that it is his ring.” 

“ Do you mean, daughter, that it is Mr. Moore’s ring? ” 
exclaimed Mrs. Grafton, “ How can it be?” 

“ Yes,” replied Virginia, “ I recognized the ring in- 
stantly.” 


A Story of the Times 


125 


“ Well,” said Mrs. Grafton, with a puzzled expression on 
her face, “ the burglars must have been at Mr. Moore’s 
house and succeeded in getting in and robbing him, else 
how could the burglar have had Mr. Moore’s ring? ” 

It had not dawned on Mrs. Grafton’s mind that Mr. 
Moore himself was the would-be burglar. In her excite- 
ment she suggested that some one ought to go imme- 
diately to Mr. Moore’s ranch in order to find out if a mur- 
der had been committed as well as a burglary. 

“ It would be better, I fancy, for Mr. Moore if his house 
had been burglarized and the fingers lying in there on the 
carpet had been chopped from the hand of some one other 
than Mr. Moore himself,” replied Virginia. 

Mrs. Grafton arose from her chair and staring in a be- 
wildered way at her daughter, exclaimed: 

“ You do not mean to. insinuate, surely, that Mr. Moore 
tried to break into our house?” 

Mr. Grafton went across the room to his wife and ex- 
plained to her that possibly there might be some mistake 
about it, but that both Mr. Van Kirk and himself were 
seriously of the opinion that Mr. Moore was the would-be 
burglar. Mrs. Grafton sank back in her chair exclaiming: 
“ How can it be? How can it be? ” 

When daylight came a careful inspection was made of the 
porch and the grounds between the porch and the road 
where the would-be burglars stood when they fired the last 
shots. The porch in front of the window was covered with 
blood stains, and blood spots .were found on the ground 
near the edge of the porch, and there was a trail of blood 
from the porch to the fence, and on the fence, showing 
where the burglars had climbed over in their flight. On 
the ground just over the edge of the porch was found the 
piece of glass which had been cut from the window. The 
neatness and precision with which it had been removed 
showed that the hand which did the work was a steady 
one, and not without skill in that kind of business. Against 
one side of the piece of glas.s was a round piece of tough 


126 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

substance, harder than leather, and about two-thirds of the 
size of the piece of glass. It was so firmly glued to the 
glass that it was almost a part of it. From the center of 
the adhering patch was a projecting piece of leather large 
enough and long enough to enable the fingers to clutch it 
firmly. This patch was pressed against the window pane 
until it adhered and the incision around it having been 
made all that was necessary was a quick rap with some kind 
of instrument to complete the job, and the piece of detached 
glass was jerked outward with the other hand. A close 
examination of the window frame and the wall of the room 
opposite the window showed that four bullets had been 
fired before the men retreated. One of the bullets plow- 
ed through the window frame very near to where Mr. Van 
Kirk was standing. The other three bullets entered the 
window near the center and too high up to have struck him 
if he had been actually standing in front of the window. 
One of the bullets fired by the burglars from the road 
struck the corner post of the porch at about the height of 
Mr. Van Kirk’s breast. Another bullet struck the corner 
of the house at about the same distance from the floor of 
the porch. The other bullets went wild. It was thought 
that the bullet which struck the post was the one which in- 
flicted the wound in Mr. Van Kirk’s arm. An examina- 
tion of the fence showed bullet marks from Mr. Van Kirk’s 
revolver at about the right height to show that he had taken 
very accurate aim at the flashes of the burglars’ revolvers. 
It was quite evident that his fire was so accurate and rapid 
that the burglars mounted their horses and retreated hur- 
riedly to escape the fire. 

Both Mr. Grafton and Mr. Van Kirk expected to find 
the tracks of the horses leading in the direction of Mr. 
Moore’s ranch, and were greatly surprised, and somewhat 
nonplussed, to find that they led in exactly the opposite di- 
rection. Mr. Grafton suggested, however, that it was a 
blind — that they took the opposite direction in order to 
mislead. He was firmly convinced that the guilty man 


A Story of the Times 


127 


was none other than Mr. Moore, accompanied by some one 
of his desperate cowboys. Mr. Van Kirk agreed with him 
in this conviction, and they determined to act upon this 
theory in working up the case. 

After a hurried breakfast Mr. Grafton started for the 
county seat for the purpose of laying the matter before the 
sheriff of the county. Mr. Van Kirk remained at the ranch 
as company for the ladies, and as a sort of guard of the 
premises. Mrs. Grafton continued to labor under great 
excitement, and it required all of the quieting influence of 
Virginia to keep her from becoming hysterical. Virginia 
showed calmness and courage in perfect keeping with the 
qualities which had shown themselves in her conduct the 
night of the blizzard. 

Mr. Grafton had not travelled more than half the distance 
to the railroad station when he met Mr. Spellbinder in 
company with the sheriff and two other- men who were in- 
troduced to him as detectives from the State of Texas. Mr. 
Spellbinder explained that the detectives were armed with 
an extradition warrant for. the arrest of Osmond Blackburn 
alias Thomas Moore, indicted for burglary and man- 
slaughter. 

Mr. Grafton gave the sheriff the details of the attempted 
burglary of his house, and the narrow escape of his guest, 
Mr. Van Kirk; and stated with great positiveness that it 
was his belief that Moore was the guilty man. 

A hurried consultation between the sheriff and detectives 
and Mr. Spellbinder, evolved the plan that they would re- 
turn to the station and that Mr. Grafton should go back to 
his home and endeavor to watch the movements on the 
Moore ranch. This plan was carried out. 

When the sheriff and Mr. Spellbinder arrived at the rail- 
road station they immediately communicated by telegraph 
with the warden of the penitentiary, requesting him to send 
a couple of bloodhounds, with their keeper, by the first 
train. They arrived the next day; and by noon the sheriff 
and his party were at the Grafton ranch. 


128 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


In the evening the detectives mounted on good horses 
rode out to a point near the ranch and took positions from 
which they could plainly see everything occurring about 
Mr. Moore’s buildings. In this way the ranch was watched 
from two sides so vigilantly that had anybody attempted 
to leave it he must have been seen, but nothing unusual 
was observed during the night. In fact, it seemed to Mr. 
Grafton that there was less activity on the ranch than usual. 
Lights were seen in the house and office, but nothing of a 
suspicious nature was detected by either Mr. Grafton or the 
detectives. 

The detectives looked over the work at the window care- 
fully and pronounced it that of a professional. They also 
inspected the amputated fingers and the ring. They agreed 
that the ring was the one used in cutting the glass, and that 
the fingers belonged on the left hand. This latter fact they 
declared pointed towards Moore, because, as they asserted, 
he was left-handed, and it. was for this reason the burglar 
used his left hand in manipulating the sash lock. 

They showered compliments upon Mr. Van Kirk for his 
calmness and courage, but expressed regret that he did not 
shoot dead the would-be burglar at short range while he 
was trying to unfasten the lock. One of them remarked 
that the only rule to follow in dealing with burglars was to 
shoot them down without warning if possible. 

The hounds were taken to the spot where the burglars 
stood near the tree from which led the trail of blood to the 
fence. The dogs sniffed the ground a few seconds and 
then started with a deep bay on the trail. Climbing over 
the fence, they circled round once or twice in the road 
where the burglars had made confused tracks in mounting 
their horses, and without hesitation they started on the trail 
down the road. On they went for two miles, when they 
veered to the west and went out on the prairie. Without 
slacking their speed and without deviating in the least in 
their general course, they followed the trail to a point al- 
most due north of the buildings on Moore’s ranch. Here 


A Story of the Times 


129 


they turned east and kept that course until they reached the 
windmill which pumped water for Mr. Moore’s stock. The 
dogs hesitated here and made several circles around the 
windmill. The posse following the dogs caught up with 
them here, and discovered blood marks on the side of one 
of the watering troughs, near which they found a handker- 
chief saturated with blood partly hidden under a board. 
The dogs soon struck the trail again and bounded off in 
the direction of the ranch house. About half a mile from 
the windmill the dogs separated, one going on direct to- 
wards the house, and the other towards the bottom of the 
Loup River where Mr. Moore maintained what he called 
the “ Bottom Ranch.” The man in charge of the dogs 
promptly interpreted this movement to mean that the two 
burglars had separated at this point for some reason or 
other. 

“ If the dogs,” he said, “ don’t abandon one trail or the 
other to travel in company we’ll run them both to cover.” 

Presently the dog which had turned towards the river 
whirled in his tracks and came back to the point from 
which he had made his detour and followed, with increased 
speed, the trail held by the other dog. 

The keeper got off his horse and stuck a stake with a 
handkerchief tied to it at the point of divergence, and then 
galloped on after the dogs. Within a few minutes both 
dogs were at the door of the ranch barn baying like mad. 
When the posse caught up the dogs were rearing up against 
the door of the barn and fiercely gnawing the boards as if 
to force an entrance. The keeper was of the opinion that 
one of the burglars had put his horse in the stable and after- 
wards had gone to the house. Acting upon this theory, 
he caused the hounds to circle around the barn a little dis- 
tance from it for the purpose of determining whether his 
theory was correct. Sure enough the dogs struck the trail 
leading to the house, and immediately followed it. When 
they reached the house, they attacked the rear door as 
fiercely as they had the barn door. This satisfied the keep- 


130 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

er that one of the men they were after had entered the 
house. To prove this, he started the dogs in a circle 
around the house and when they came to the trail from 
the barn to the house, they again took it and attacked the 
door of the house as in the first instance. One of the de- 
tectives went to the front door, while the other one remained 
at the back door with the sheriff. The dogs were leashed by 
the keeper in order that he might have them under control 
should the burglar be found. After repeated knocking at 
both doors, the rear one was opened by a man wearing a 
white cap and white apron such as are commonly worn by 
cooks. He asked what was wanted. 

“ We desire to see Mr. Moore,” said one of the detectives. 

“ He is not at home,” answered the man without betray- 
ing any excitement. “ He started to Chicago the day be- 
fore yesterday, and will not be back for several weeks. I 
am expecting the superintendent from the railroad station 
every minute. Perhaps he will do, as he attends to all of 
Mr. Moore’s ranch business.” 

The frankness and straightforwardness of the man was 
somewhat puzzling to the officers; and they determined to 
wait awhile for the return of the superintendent. They had 
not waited long till he drove up in a runabout, and seemed 
surprised to find such a party at the house awaiting him. 
He turned his horse over to a stableman, and after being 
introduced to the gentlemen of the party, he very politely 
and cordially invited them into the house. At this mo- 
ment the keeper with his dogs came around the corner of 
the house, and almost instantly both dogs gave a startling 
bay and leaped with such violence toward the superintend- 
ent that the keeper was jerked to the ground and dragged 
some distance before he succeeded in stopping them. They 
seemed determined to get at the superintendent, and it re- 
quired the keeper and sheriff both to restrain them. No- 
ticing the danger he was in, the superintendent turned as 
pale as death, urging the party the while to enter the house 
out of the way of such vicious animals. The keeper whis- 


A Story of the Times 


131 

pered to one of the detectives that without doubt this was 
one of the men they had trailed from the Grafton ranch. 
Acting upon this suggestion the detectives at once arrested 
the superintendent and put handcuffs on him. He ex- 
pressed great indignation at such treatment, and demanded 
to know the cause of it. 

He was told that a crime had been committed in the 
neighborhood, and that the bloodhounds had tracked at 
least one of the criminals to the Moore ranch. 

“ The hounds,” continued the detective, “ have spotted 
you as one of the men we are after, and under the authority 
of the law we take you in charge.” 

The superintendent denied all knowledge of any crime, 
and pleaded his innocence with such earnestness that all of 
the party except the detectives and the keeper of the hofinds 
were led to doubt his guilt. 

Mr. Grafton had remarked upon the absence of the usual 
number of hired men about the ranch, and he suggested to 
the sheriff that he ask the superintendent .where the men 
were. 

“Where is Mr. Moore?” inquired the sheriff of the su- 
perintendent. 

“'Mr. Moore,” he replied, “left for Chicago a few days 
ago, to be gone some time.” 

“Where are the men usually seen about the ranch?” 
asked the sheriff. 

“ Most of them are at the Bottom Ranch,” he replied. 

This was said without hesitation and with such candor 
that it rather staggered the sheriff and those who heard it. 

The keeper of the dogs was not satisfied with what they 
had accomplished. He said that he had no doubt whatever 
that the other man they wanted had gone to the Bottom 
Ranch, and he proposed going back to where he had stuck 
the stake in the ground on which he tied his handkerchief 
and putting the dogs on that trail. Two men were left in 
charge of the superintendent, and the rest of the party 
started for the other trail. When they arrived at the stake 


132 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

the dogs took the side trail which they followed without a 
wobble until they came to a small creek called the Never- 
sink which flowed into the Loup a mile below. Here they 
wavered, and ran up and down the creek for some little dis- 
tance. Finally they plunged into the water, swam across, 
and in a short time struck the trail on the opposite side. 
They followed this trail in a direct line towards a log cabin 
with a large stockade corral near it, located about a quarter 
of a mile from the north bank of the Loup River. When 
they had reached the corral, they attacked the door with 
the same fierceness they had the door of the ranch resi- 
dence. By the time the posse following arrived at the 
stockade, several men in cowboy attire, with the usual ar- 
senal strapped to their hips, had come out of the cabin and 
w eying the dogs suspiciously. 

“ Good mornin’,” they said to the sheriff who was leading 
the posse. 

“ Good morning,” answered the sheriff. 

“ What the devil do them hounds want yelpin’ and bitin’ 
around here like that?” asked one of the men who looked 
as if he might be the boss. 

“ We are trailing the perpetrators of a crime that has 
been committed in the neighborhood,” replied the sheriff. 

“ Well, there ain’t no criminals about this ranch, and 
you’d better call them d — brutes off mighty quick or we’ll 
feed ’em some cold lead,” said the man with a good deal 
of braggadocio. 

“ You had better not undertake to do that, my man,” re- 
plied the sheriff. “ Those dogs belong to the State and 
they are here under the protection and by the authority of 
the State.” 

“We don’t give a d — for that,” replied the man defiantly. 
“ Dogs is dogs, and if you don’t call ’em off we’ll plug ’em 
sure.” 

“ The dogs will not hurt you. They are perfectly harm- 
less to every one except the criminal they are trailing, and if 
he isn’t here the dogs will do no harm to anybody on the 


A Story of the Times 


133 


ranch. Open the gate and let us in, and if the criminal is 
not in there, we shall withdraw and take the dogs with us.” 

“ I don’t know as we have to open the gate; it’s Mr. 
Moore’s and we’re here to take care of it, and if you hain’t 
got an order from him I reckon the gate will not be 
opened right away to accommodate you,” replied the man 
in an insolent, dogged way. 

“ We shall see about that,” replied the sheriff. “ I have 
an extradition warrant for the arrest of Mr. Moore, as you 
call him, and the State hounds have located him at this 
ranch, and in the name of the law I insist on your opening 
the gate that we may execute the warrant.” 

The sheriff produced the warrant and read it to the man, 
and endeavored to satisfy him that he must not obstruct the 
officers in the discharge of their duty. The sheriff asked in 
a polite way if Mr. Moore was in the stockade or had been 
within a few hours. 

“ I don’t know as it is everybody’s business whether he 
is or is not,” answered the man in a swaggering way, “ but 
as you’re an officer of the law I’ll kinder condescend to say 
that Mr. Moore aint here; I reckon he is in Chicago, as 
he started for there several days ago.” 

“ You said a while ago,” observed the sheriff, “ that we 
would have to get an order from Mr. Moore before we 
could enter the stockade. Now you say he is in Chicago. 
How do you expect us to get an order from him under 
these circumstances?” 

“ An order from the superintendent will do,” answered 
the man bluntly. 

“The superintendent is under arrest and in irons. You 
must open that gate at once,” demanded the officer. 

At this juncture the gate opened far enough for five men 
to squeeze out. The dogs seeing the opening made a lunge 
forward as if to enter. At this several of the cowboys drew 
their revolvers in a threatening way, and it looked as if the 
crisis had come. 

“ These dogs will not hurt you,” said the sheriff, “ and. 


134 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

the man who dares to shoot will do so at his peril.” 

“ Put up your guns, boys, maybe you’ll have better use 
for ’em,” said the boss, 

The guns were put up with ill-concealed reluctance, and 
the men stood as if ready for “ gun play ” at any moment 
— indeed, as if they were eager for it to begin. The sheriff 
recognized one of the men who squeezed out of the corral 
as probably the worst character who had ever come up the 
trail from Texas to Ogalalla. He had the reputation of 
being a dead shot and had “ killed his man,” and never met 
his Waterloo until he ran up against Captain Smith, who 
distinguished himself in the capture of “ Gold-tooth ” Mid- 
dleton. 

Knowing this man’s reputation, and the evident purpose 
of the outfit to resist the execution of the warrant, he made 
up his mind that it would be rash for him with his present 
posse to undertake to force the gate. Going aside he called 
the two detectives, Mr. Grafton and Mr. Spellbinder to him 
to hold a consultation. 

“ There is trouble in sight, gentlemen,” said the sheriff, 
“ and our posse is not large enough to tackle the job. 
There are eight of Moore’s men in sight and "how many 
more there may be out of sight in the stockade and cabin 
can only be guessed at. I know that Moore has as many 
as twenty-five men in his employ, and there were not more 
than three or four at the residence this morning. The su- 
perintendent said that the others were at this ranch, con- 
sequently there must be not less than twenty men that we’ll 
have to deal with if we undertake to force the gate. So, 
what shall be done? ” 

“ It will be necessary for us to withdraw from here and 
collect a larger force, if it can be done,” suggested Mr. 
Spellbinder. 

“ There are but two things to do,” replied the sheriff, 
“ either to abandon the job or get a big enough force to 
carry it out. I don’t propose to adopt the former course, 
I assure you.” 


A Story of the Times 


135 


After some consultation, it was agreed that the posse 
should withdraw to the higher ground overlooking the 
stockade, where some of the men would be left to perform 
picket duty while the sheriff, Mr. Grafton and Mr. Spell- 
binder went to gather a larger force. Before they started, 
however, the sheriff returned to the boss of the outfit, and 
again demanded, in the name of the law, that the door of 
the stockade be thrown open. 

“ I’ll see yer and the scabby lot yer got with yer in h — 
first,” was his insolent reply. 

“ Then we’ll have to take the necessary steps to maintain 
the dignity of the law and the sovereignty of the State,” 
said the sheriff. 

“ Do yer darndest,” replied the boss, “ we’ll be with yer 
when the play begins. We’ve got a little sovereignty of 
our own to take care of, and that’s what this stockade is fer.” 

The other cowboys stood as if waiting for a word or mo- 
tion to begin the “ gun play,” and all seemed surprised, if 
not disappointed, when the sheriff’s posse rode off leading 
the dogs. 

Within three hours thirty determined men assembled at 
the Grafton ranch, armed with Winchester rifles and re- 
volvers. The evidences of the attempt to break into the 
house and to murder Mr. Van Kirk, fired them with de- 
termination and an eager desire to capture the would-be 
murderers. Refreshments were served, and several bask- 
ets of provisions were put up for the men to eat later on. 
When the posse was about ready to start, Mr. Van Kirk in- 
dicated his purpose to go along, notwithstanding his 
wounded arm had swollen considerably, and had developed 
some inflammation. Some of the gentlemen told him it 
was quite unnecessary for him to go, and Mrs. Grafton 
and Virginia protested, declaring that it was really a species 
of recklessness on his part. All of the protestations were 
unavailing, for he said he was determined to go. He made 
the necessary preparations and was in readiness when the 
posse was ready to move. He persuaded Mr. Grafton, who 


136 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


was very much fatigued on account of loss of sleep and the 
exertions he had gone through during the day, to remain 
with his wife and daughter. 

About this time Mr. Spellbinder came up and indicated 
his purpose to stay at the ranch, saying that he was nearly 
worn out, besides he said: 

“ I have been extremely anxious all day lest something 
might have happened to the ladies here who have no pro- 
tection except Mr. Van Kirk, who was wounded, and I 
consider it the duty of some able-bodied man to stay here 
and act as a guard.” 

“ That is quite unnecessary, Mr. Spellbinder,” said Vir- 
ginia. “We are in no danger even if left alone, but father 
will remain and allow Mr. Van Kirk to use his riding horse 
and Winchester. Besides, I know something about the 
use of a gun myself.” 

“ I am about used up,” answered Mr. Spellbinder, “ and 
I feel as if I am about fit for a ‘ home-guard.’ I think 
the number of men we have got together, who are used to 
the saddle and outdoor hardships, will be able to capture 
the stockade without me.” 

“ Of course Mr. Spellbinder, we shall be glad to have 
you stay,” said Virginia, “ but somehow I feel that you will 
be more needed at the stockade.” 

“ I think I’ll stay,” rejoined Mr. Spellbinder. “ In my 
used-up condition I don’t think I’ll be of much use to the 
sheriff. I’m not used to this sort of thing, you know. It’s 
not in my line. Now, if it was a campaign against the Re- 
publicans, I could go it from now until election day and 
speak every day and night without feeling it,” and he cast 
a wistful eye towards the dining-room. 

Virginia noticed his glance in the direction of the edibles, 
and divining its meaning, she said: 

“ You are doubtless hungry, Mr. Spellbinder, and if you 
will go with me to the dining-room I will help you to some- 
thing to eat.” 

“ That I will, Miss Grafton, for I am as hungry as a 


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137 


wolf,” he replied. “ I am truly grateful to you for the 
suggestion.” 

Virginia helped him to a bountiful supply of victuals, in- 
cluding a hot cup of coffee, to which he addressed himself 
with promptness and vigor. 

Virginia excused herself, saying that she desired to see 
the men and bid them Godspeed before they left. She was 
just in time to do this, for the column was moving when 
she arrived at the gate leading into the roadway where her 
father and mother were standing. Mr. Van Kirk lingered 
for a few seconds at the gate talking with Mr. Grafton and 
the two ladies, and before he went shook hands with each. 
Virginia wished him Godspeed and success, and followed 
him apparently with eager eyes until he had rejoined the 
column and the posse was out of sight. 

“ He’s a brave fellow,” said Mr. Grafton. 

“ I think so myself,” answered Virginia. “ I like a man 
of his mettle. A wound to him seems nothing at all, and he 
courts opportunity to do what appears to him to be his 
duty. He proved his courage last night.” 

“ You have left Mr. Spellbinder alone, Virginia,” ob- 
served Mrs. Grafton. 

“ Yes, I think, however, he will be able to take care of 
himself at the table,” Virginia replied rather sarcastically. 

Mrs. Grafton hurried into the dining-room and found 
Mr. Spellbinder apparently satisfied with himself and all 
the world. She made some apology for his having been 
left alone. 

“ Oh, I’m getting on first rate,” he answered with his 
mouth full of victuals. 

“ What a terrible experience this is, father,” said Vir- 
ginia, “ I do hope there will be no further bloodshed. 
Wouldn’t it be dreadful if Mr. Van Kirk should be killed 
or seriously wounded? ” 

“ I trust no one will be hurt,” replied her father. “ There 
has been tragedy enough already. But I share with you 
your solicitude, for our guest, Mr. Van Kirk. I’ve truly 
learned to admire him for his genuine manly qualities.” 


138 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

Virginia looked at her father intently for a moment, and 
then said: 

“ So do I father, so do I.” 

“ I am glad of that, Virginia, for I happen to know that 
he would give a great deal to hear you speak the words 
you have just uttered,” he answered. 

“ Why, what can you mean, father?” exclaimed Virginia,. 

“ Just this, daughter,” answered Mr,. Grafton, “ he has de- 
clared to me that it was his purpose, with my consent, at a 
fitting time to ask you to become his wife.” 

“ What did you say to him, father? ” asked Virginia. 

“ I scarcely recall what I did say,” he answered, “ but I 
think I said enough to him to indicate that I had no ob- 
jections.” 

“ Why have you said nothing to me about it before, 
father? ” she asked evincing more interest than her father 
was prepared to see. 

“ Why, my dear daughter, how could I have said any- 
thing to you about it? ” he replied, “ with all the tragical 
happenings of the last day or so. It was only the day be- 
fore yesterday he said this to me.” 

“ True, my dear father, you have had no opportunity,” 
she replied, “ I spoke thoughtlessly. I am extremely glad, 
however, that you have told me this.” 

“ I am glad also,” replied her father, “ and I hope that 
you will treat him with the utmost consideration.” 

“ I certainly have every reason to do so,” she replied, 
coloring a little. 

Mr. Spellbinder had finished his meal, and had come out 
where Mr. Grafton and his daughter were seated on the 
porch. Mr. Spellbinder remarked that he felt more like 
himself now since he had regaled the inner man with some 
of Mrs. Grafton’s well-cooked victuals. 

“ I’m certainly glad to know that you feel better,” an- 
swered Virginia. 

“ Yes,” said Mr. Spellbinder, “ I got pretty hungry chas- 
ing after those hounds, and I’m not used to horseback 


A Story of the Times 


139 


riding. I’ll feel pretty stiff in the morning, I apprehend. 
I hope we’ll succeed in catching the scoundrels, especially 
that arch-scoundrel, Moore.” 

“ Do you really think he had anything to do with the at- 
tempted burglary?” asked Virginia. 

“ Do I? ” he exclaimed, “ I am satisfied he is at the bot- 
tom of it all, if not the principal actor,” and he looked at 
Virginia as if he would read her innermost thoughts. 

Mr. Spellbinder felt pretty well satisfied that Virginia had 
more than a passing interest in the man, Moore, and he 
attributed her apparent confidence in his innocence to that 
fact. He availed himself of this opportunity to exploit 
what he knew about Moore. He also took occasion to 
say to Mr. Grafton and his daughter that he had worked 
up the case against Moore which had brought the detec- 
tives and himself into the neighborhood just in the nick of 
time. He explained to them that the Governor of Texas 
had made a requisition for Moore’s return to that State 
where an indictment was hanging over his head for a hein- 
ous crime committed ten years ago, 

“ Is it possible,” exclaimed Virginia, “ that what you say 
can be true? One can hardly conceive of such hypocrisy.” 

Mr. Spellbinder put his part o^ the matter in the strong- 
est light possible, and a complacent smile spread over his 
countenance indicating that he felt satisfied with his effort. 

“ I can hardly realize,” said Mr. Grafton, “ that it is pos- 
sible that we have been harboring such a man under our 
roof,” and he excused himself to go to the barn to look 
after his stock. 

“ I hope you will pardon me, Miss Grafton,” said Mr. 
Spellbinder, “ but I desire to say that the interest I have 
taken in bringing Mr. Moore to justice, aside from my gen- 
eral desire to see criminals punished, was because of my 
love for you. I know you rejected my offer of marriage, 
but despite of that I love you still.” 

Virginia turned towards him as if startled, and looked 


140 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

him in the face as one who could not believe her ears. 
“Because of your love for me?” she exclaimed. 

“ Yes, Miss Grafton, because of my love for you,” an- 
swered Mr. Spellbinder, and he made a move as if to get 
nearer to her. 

Virginia stayed him with a motion of her hand and said: 

“I am surprised, Mr. Spellbinder, both at what you have 
said and the time you have chosen for saying it. You will 
agree that this is hardly a proper time to broach such a 
subject. A terrible tragedy may be enacting at this very 
moment within a few miles of us in which some of our 
friends may be sacrificing their lives in an effort to uphold 
the authority of the law. You will pardon me if I abso- 
lutely decline to discuss the subject.” 

“ I beg your pardon, Miss Grafton,” he replied. “ Per- 
haps the time is inopportune, but my heart was so full of 
the subject that I couldn’t restrain myself.” 

“ I will say this much, Mr. Spellbinder, on the subject,” 
she replied, “ I do not consider myself free to listen to your 
declarations of love, and I shall be obliged to you if you 
will not refer to the subject again.” 

“ Can it be, as I have suspected,” he exclaimed, “ that 
you are engaged to marry that scoundrel, Moore? I will 
see that that will soon come to an end,” and his whole frame 
shook with excitement and anger. 

“ I do not admit your right, Mr. Spellbinder, to cate- 
chise me in this way,” she replied, “ but I deem it proper 
and due to myself, under the circumstances, to inform you 
that I am not engaged to Mr. Moore, and that I never 
have beem” 

Mr. Spellbinder excused himself and walked down to- 
wards the gate. Virginia remained seated, with her eyes 
anxiously looking in the direction of the stockade, where 
it was possible that at that very moment a desperate con- 
flict was going on. The thought made her tremble. She 
offered a silent prayer for all on the side of law and justice, 
and almost involuntarily her most fervent prayer was for 
the safety of Mr. Van Kirk. 


A Story of the Times 


I4A 


CHAPTER XIV. 

The Cowboys Defiant to the Last. 

The re-enforced posse proceeded to the stockade, and was 
met by the same men who had come outside in the morn- 
ing. The sheriff in a polite but firm way demanded that 
the gate be opened for the execution of the law. 

“ I wus ordered by Mr. Moore/’ said the boss of the out- 
fit, “ to take care of his property and I’ll do it if it costs me 
my life.” 

“ We are not here,” replied the sheriff, “ to interfere in 
any manner with the property of the man you call Moore. 
What the State wants and what it insists upon having is 
access to this stockade and cabin for the purpose of arrest- 
ing a man under indictment for crime, and who is suspected 
of having attempted a burglary the night before last. We 
believe you are harboring and defending this criminal, and 
in doing so you are resisting an officer in the discharge of 
his duty. You are doing this at your peril, and I advise 
you to desist at once.” 

“ I suppose,” replied the boss doggedly, “ that we’ve 
got the whole State to fight, and maybe it’s a bigger job 
than a few fellers ought to tackle, but if you think we’re 
afeered to try it you’re clean off, mister. We can clean 
out this outfit you’ve got here and do it dead easy.” 

“ You had better get your men together,” said the sheriff 
in a kindly tone, “ and talk the situation over calmly. It 
may be that you will come to the conclusion that it will be 
better for you to open the gate than to take the chances of 
armed resistance. We’ll give you a reasonable time to 
talk it over, and I hope you will come to the conclusion not 
to defy the authority of the State any longer.” . 

The boss turned to his men and beckoned them aside a 


142 The Homesteaper’s Daughter 

little way where they engaged in a consultation which last- 
ed several minutes. At the conclusion the boss advanced 
to the sheriff and said: 

“ Mister, I guess we’ll fight, and you’d better git back 
before the ‘ gun play ’ begins.” 

“ That is your answer, is it? ” asked the sheriff. 

“Sure; and the boys will stand by me you bet,” he re- 
plied. 

The sheriff was not wholly disappointed in this answer, 
yet he had hoped that the better sense of the men would 
prevail. It hardly need be said that the sheriff was 
troubled somewhat to know what was the best course to 
pursue. After a consultation with the detectives* and other 
members of the posse, he gave directions for his men to 
fall back to the brow of the hill commanding the stockade. 
He had fully made up his mind to bring the rebellious out- 
fit to terms, and he hoped to accomplish it without losing 
a man. Reaching the brow of the hill he posted his men 
at points fully covering the stockade. When he had done 
this he gave orders that they form themselves into reliefs 
so that picket duty could be performed in the most satis- 
factory way. 

Several men were sent for blankets and provisions, and 
the sheriff started to the nearest telegraph office on a fleet 
horse to order two field pieces and ammunition, from the 
county seat. This he accomplished and was back on the 
field with ten additional men by ten o’clock. Nothing of 
importance had occurred during his absence, and he found 
the men well posted and the reliefs all arranged for the 
night. 

“ It seems to me, sheriff,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ that men 
ought to be posted between the stockade and the river to 
intercept any one trying to escape in that direction.” 

“ I agree with you,” replied the sheriff, “ but it’s a dan- 
gerous undertaking. I don’t want to lose a single life if I 
can help it.” 


A St'ory of the Times 


143 


“ I will volunteer,” said. Mr. Van Kirk, “ to take up such 
a position, if you will permit it.” 

This was agreed to, and the two men walked up to the 
picket post nearest the river where five men were stationed, 
and from here reconnoitered the situation. 

“ I have a plan,” said Mr. Van Virk. “ I will follow the 
ridge and when far enough above the stockade to be well 
concealed I will crawl down to the river bank and under 
cover of that take up a position under the bank as near as 
possible to the stockade.” 

“ I’m a little shaky about this proposition of yours, Mr. 
Van Kirk,” said the sheriff. “ It’s a good move, but I’m 
a little afraid that the keen eyes of those cowboys will de- 
tect your movement and send a bullet into you. I think 
we can compel the surrender of the stockade without hav- 
ing a man wounded or killed. You’ve been wounded once 
within the last forty-eight hours, and I should consider 
myself culpable if I were to consent to allow you to un- 
necessarily expose yourself and be shot the second time, 
perhaps more seriously.” 

“ I have volunteered, sheriff,” replied Mr. Van Kirk, 
“ and I absolve you from all responsibility in the undertak- 
ing. It seems to me that the point between the house and 
the river ought to be guarded by all means.” 

“ Well, I waive my judgment in the matter,” said the 
sheriff, “ and will allow you to take your own course. But 
you must exercise extreme caution in your movements.” 

“ There is a sand-draw about half a mile above here,” re- 
marked one of the men. “ I know this country pretty well, 
and I’ll guide the gentleman if he would like to have me, 
and stay with him if the sheriff says so.” 

“ That is a good idea,” said the sheriff, “ I think it will 
be better for two to go rather than one.” 

The two men took their blankets and some “ grub ” and 
started on their perilous undertaking. Half a mile above 
they found the sand-draw which led down to the river bank. 
It was easy enough for them to follow this down without 


144 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

being seen from the stockade, and it was practicable for 
them to sneak along under the bank to a point opposite the 
cabin. They prepared for the night by making a nest 
with their blankets under the bank, and arranged for 
prompt work in the event any attempt was made by the 
criminal to escape from the stockade. 

It might be well here to give a brief description of the 
Loup River and the topography of the ground at this point. 
This river, like the Platte, is a rather wide and shallow 
stream most of the year. At times the bed of the river is a 
succession of sand bars, with here and there puddles of 
water and a current, sometimes on one side of the river and 
sometimes on the other, which carries the water along 
sluggishly for a few miles and then wholly disappears, to re- 
appear again below. When the water is as low as this it 
is possible to drive across without the water coming to the 
knees of the horses, yet there is always danger of plunging 
into a quick-sand hole from which it would be impossible 
to extricate man or horse. These quick-sand holes are 
found in the most unexpected places in the river and are 
shifting in their nature. Many human beings and animals 
have been buried alive in these quick-sand graves. 

When the snow melts in the spring or in a wet season, 
the Loup becomes a deep and rapid stream, sometimes 
overflowing its banks. At such times it is impossible to 
ford it, and no one familiar with its whirlpools and suck- 
holes would venture upon its turbulent waters in a small 
boat. 

At the time of the tragical occurrences being described 
in this chapter the Loup contained but little water. There 
were pools of water as already described here and there, 
and towards the south bank was a current not more than 
fifty feet wide. Before bridges were built across the Loup 
in this vicinity, it was not uncommon for cattlemen to ford 
the river at this point. Because of this fact a ranch was 
established here which for many years was known as the 
“ Ford Ranch.” After the ranch passed into the hands of 


A Story of the Times 


145 


its present owner and was merged into his other ranch it 
was known as Moore’s Bottom Ranch. The cabin and 
stockade of the ranch were located about three hundred 
yards from the river bank, and were protected by the 
“ breaks ” of the river which arose considerably above the 
cabin and described a semi-circle. For this reason the 
cabin and stockade were poorly located for successful de- 
fense against an attacking force. 


“What sort of men have we got to deal with?” asked 
Mr. Van Kirk of his companion. 

“ Bad — the whole outfit,” he answered. “ I used to work 
for Moore and I know the whole lot. Moore wouldn’t 
have any but bad men very long on his ranch.” 

“ What do you mean by bad men? ” asked Mr. Van Kirk, 
noticing the emphasis on the word “ bad.” 

“ On the range it means men who are on the shoot and 
don’t care much who they shoot,” replied the man. “ All 
of them fellers in there come up the trail, and most of ’em 
has killed his man.” 

“ Pretty desperate men I should say,” answered Mr. Van 
Kirk. 

“ You bet yer sweet life,” he replied. “ They’ll give us 
a hot brush if we tackle ’em. If any comes out here to- 
night we must git the drop on ’em or they’ll wing us sure.” 

Mr. Van Kirk liked the courage and candor of the 
young man, notwithstanding he lacked culture and con- 
stantly murdered the King’s English. He showed the 
right kind of mettle when he volunteered to go with Mr. 
Van Kirk, and from that moment he was well established in 
the kindly regard of that gentleman. Although he had 
known him but a few hours he had complete confidence in 
his courage and his loyalty. It was not long till he had 
ample evidence of the young man’s worthiness of the esti- 
mate he had placed upon him. 


146 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


CHAPTER XV. 

A Rush for the River. 

About midnight three men could be distinctly silhouetted 
against the stockade. They had come out of the wide gate 
of the enclosure and each was leading a horse. They en- 
tered a shallow sand-draw a little down the river from the 
stockade, and it was apparent to Van Kirk and his com- 
panion that they would either attempt to ford the river or, 
under the cover of the bank, attempt to escape in that way. 

Mr. Van Kirk and the young man got their arms ready, 
and prepared for whatever might happen. Mr. Van Kirk 
addressed the young man and said: 

“ I have not learned your name.” 

" My name is Hank Miller,” he replied, “• but they call 
me ‘ Black Hank ’ on account of my dark complexion.” 

Hank,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ if anything happens to 
me to-night, I would like to have you take possession of 
my watch and a pocket-book you will find in the pockets 
of my vest and deliver them to Mr. Grafton.” 

“ I’ll do what you say, sir,” answered the young man, 
“ but I don’t believe anything will happen to yer so I’ll have 
to do that.” 

“ I trust not, but one cannot tell,” responded Mr. Van 
Kirk. 

The three men by this time had reached the mouth of the 
draw, and were not more than twenty yards from where 
the two men were concealed. 

“ It’s a d — dangerous undertaking in the dark,” said 
one of the three men, “ but if we can keep in a line with 
the bunch of cottonwood trees on the other bank, we’ll 
make it all right.” 

At this they all peered in the direction of the opposite 
bank as if to locate the bunch of trees. 


A Story of the Times 


147 


“ I can’t make ’em out,” said one, “ but when we get to 
the water it’ll be all right. We can see the trees from 
there, but no feller can tell about the d — quick-sand holes. 
If we drop into one of them we’re gone, and it would have 
been better to fight her out agin the whole State.” 

“ That’s what I’m afraid of,” interposed another, “ but 
I see no other way out of it. I’ll lead the way, and if I 
drop into a quick-sand pit you can pull me out by the lariat 
tied around me,. Don’t get too near me no matter what 
happens. I’d be in favor now of going up to J:he bridge 
and take chances on a fight with the sheriff’s men, but I 
don’t want you fellows to take any chances of that kind 
on my account.” 

“ Go anyways you please, boss, and we’ll foller yer if we 
have to fight the whole darn gang,” said one of the other 
men, “ but I reckon we can make the ford if we are careful. 
That’s the quickest way to git to the station. If we make 
it you’ll be out of the way before the boys surrender the 
fort.” 

“ Well,” said the man addressed as boss, “ mount your 
horses and we’ll make the run. If it wasn’t for my hand,” 
continued the man, “ I’d have more, confidence, but as it is 
I can’t handle my horse and the gun at the same time if it 
becomes necessary to shoot.” 

“ Never mind that, Mr. Moore,” replied one of the men, 
“ we’ll handle the guns; you look out for your horse and 
keep your eye on the cottonwoods.” 

“ Follow me,” said the man in the lead who had been ad- 
dressed as Mr. Moore, and they headed their horses for 
the bed of the river. 

They had not advanced far when Mr. Van Kirk 
shouted : 

“ Halt! ” . 

The challenge had no sooner been made than the two 
men in the rear began to “ pump ” their guns in the direc- 
tion from which they had heard the challenge. Mr. Van 
Kirk and “ Black Hank ” returned the fire, and being able 


148 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

to take fairly good aim, emptied two of the saddles. The 
rear horse also reeled and fell, and the riderless horse 
broke and ran down the river. The man in the lead 
quickly disappeared in the direction of the bed of the river. 
Mr.* Van Kirk and his companion fired a few shots after 
the fleeing man, but thought it prudent to give their par- 
ticular attention to the two men lying on the ground. 
“ Black Hank ” suggested that they might be “ playin’ 
’possum.” 

“ It is possible they are,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ and we 
would better hold our guns on them until we are satisfied 
on that point.” 

The prostrate men, however, lay as still as death, and 
after the horse had made a few convulsive kicks, it, too, lay 
still. 

Hearing the firing, the sheriff at once concluded that an 
attempt had been made by Moore to escape, and that Mr. 
Van Kirk and the man with him had fired on him. He 
gave orders for his men to open fire on the cabin and stock- 
ade, and to keep it up at least a half-hour, while he would 
take two men and endeavor to reach the scene of the shoot- 
ing. With true soldierly instinct, the sheriff believed that 
by firing on the stockade it would cause a diversion in 
favor of Mr,. Van Kirk and “ Black Hank.” 

The sheriff and his men had reached the bank of the 
river and were hurrying down to the two men, when they 
met “ Black Hank,” who had been ordered by Mr. Van 
Kirk to report what had happened, and to ask for re-en- 
forcements. The three hurried on and were soon with Mr. 
Van Kirk, who was keeping a sharp eye on the two pros- 
trate men. 

The sheriff and Mr. Van Kirk held a whispered conversa- 
tion, in which it was decided not to make a move until day- 
light. 

“ I wish we had thought of placing a guard at the bridge 
above and to send a couple of men over the bridge and to a 
point opposite the stockade,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ Had 


A Story of the Times 


149 


we done that, the man who escaped would probably be cap- 
tured on the other side of the river. ,, 

“ That is just what I did/’ replied the sheriff, “ after you 
left us.” 

“ Good,” responded Mr. Van Kirk. “ I want to con- 
gratulate you on your splendid management of this whole 
affair.” 

The sheriff noticed that Mr,. Van Kirk’s voice was a little 
weak and tremulous, noticeably unlike what it was in the 
evening, and he asked him the cause of it. 

“ I think,” said Mr. Van Kirk, “ that I have been 
wounded in my leg just above the knee. My trousers leg 
seems moist, and the lower part of my leg feels numb. 
When I discovered that I had been hit, I took my hand- 
kerchief and made a tourniquet and ligated my leg as 
best I could above the wound. But I don’t think it 
amounts to much.” 

The sheriff thought differently and began to feel alarmed 
on account of it. He felt of the limb and to his horror the 
trousers leg was thoroughly saturated with blood. He con- 
cluded that the man was much worse off than he was will- 
ing to admit, and he proposed to him that he allow himself 
to be removed to the upper picket post where the wound 
could be examined by a light. After some persuasion, Mr. 
Van Kirk yielded and allowed himself to be supported by 
two of the men, who actually had to carry him a part of the 
way to the ridge. An examination by an improvised light 
showed a bad flesh wound just above the knee. The light 
also enabled them to see that Mr. Van Kirk was very pale 
from loss of blood and suffering from shock. He was 
given whiskey and water, and the wound was washed and 
bandaged with cloths saturated with the liquor. It was pro- 
posed to take him at once to Mr. Grafton’s ranch, but Mr. 
Van Kirk would not listen to any such proposition. 

“ I’ll feel better in a little while,” said Mr. Van Kirk, 
“ and if there is going to be any fighting done I want to be 
here to do my share.” 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


150 


CHAPTER XVI. 

The Tragedies of a Night. 

Daylight finally came and the weary watchers were 
thankful enough. The two men who had been watched 
half the night because it was thought they might be “ play- 
ing ’possum ” were found to be stiff in death. Both had 
been pierced through the body and evidently were uncon- 
scious when they fell from their horses. The horse had 
fallen upon his rider and pinned him to the ground. It 
was truly a ghastly sight. The men were covered with 
blankets, and the pickets resumed their place under the 
bank to await developments at the stockade,. They had not 
long to wait, for within a half-hour after daylight a man 
left the stockade carrying a flag of truce. He ascended 
the hill and was permitted to advance to within a few 
yards of one of the picket posts, when he was ordered to halt. 

“What is your wish?” said the captain of the squad. 

“ We want to give up,” he said. 

He was taken in charge and the two detectives and four 
other men rode down to the stockade. They found the 
door wide open and nineteen men unarmed within the 
enclosure ready to surrender. -The boss of the outfit was 
not among them, and the man who had been recognized 
by the sheriff the day before as the “ bad man from Texas,” 
was also missing. 

“ You’ll find our guns all in the cabin,” said one of the 
outfit, “ and we’re ready to go with the sheriff without any 
more talk.” 

The detectives went through the cabin and looked in 
every nook and corner of the stockade, and satisfied them- 
selves that the man they were after had made good his 
escape. To be sure of iff however, the hounds were turned 
loose and they bounded into the stockade and then into 
the cabin and out again without paying any attention to 
the men who were in there, and took a trail leading direct 
to the river. 


A Story Of the Times 


15 1 

When the men who had been watching the stockade 
from the river bank saw the man ascending the hill with a 
flag of truce, they immediately started on the trail made by 
the horse ridden by the man who escaped during the night. 
The hounds soon overtook them on this trail and led the 
way to the narrow current which was nearer the south 
than the north bank. Over the sand they went, plunging 
through pools of water, and on until they reached the 
main channel. Here they stopped,. They ran up and down 
the edge of the water several times, and then threw theit 
noses into the air, as much as to say: “We have lost the 
trail.” They whirled instantly and took the back track 
and returned to the stockade. The keeper of the hounds 
explained that the scent must have run out before the dogs 
reached the water, else they would have plunged in and 
swam to the other side, expecting to find the trail on the 
opposite bank. 

The sheriff took possession of the rifles and revolvers 
belonging to the men who had surrendered the stockade, 
and loaded them in a wagon and under guard started them 
for Mr. Grafton’s ranch. 

Presently two men were seen on the south bank of the 
river approaching the channel from that side. They were 
soon made out to be the party sent around by the bridge 
to intercept any attempting to escape from the stockade 
from the ford. When they had reached a point as near the 
channel as seemed practicable, they were observed pointing 
to some object lying partly in the water and partly in the 
sand. The sheriff, with a number of his men, ventured 
down to the channel, and got as near the object as possible. 
Finally it was made out to be a horse that had succeeded in 
swimming the channel and had struggled in vain to climb 
up the yielding sand that formed the opposite bank. The 
animal was buried in the sand and water with the exception 
of a part of the head and neck and the pommel of the 
saddle. A lariat was attached to the pommel of the saddle 
and led back to a man who was entirely submerged in the 
sand and water with the exception of the upper part of 
his head. It was impossible to get to them, and within 


152 


The Homesteader’s Daughter 


an hour both had been completely buried out of sight by 
the shifting sands,. As neither of the men shot by Mr. 
Van Kirk and “ Black Hank ” was Mr. Moore, and as 
there were but three escaped from the stockade, it was con- 
cluded that the man drowned in attempting to cross the 
channel was the man they were after. He had escaped 
from the stockade only to be engulfed in the quick-sands 
of the Loup. 

The bodies of the men who had been shot were carried 
up to the stockade where their companions were, and who 
admitted that they were the remains of the foreman and the 
desperate character the sheriff had recognized the day be- 
fore. His former comrades, with the exception of one, 
were much affected by the scene. When they were told 
of the fate of Moore, some of them shed tears, and all 
evinced signs of sorrow, except the one man already referred 
to, which showed that they had a real attachment for him. 

The sheriff took the young man who had exhibited no 
feeling at the sight of his dead comrades, and who seemed 
to have no regret at the fate of Moore, to one side for the 
purpose of getting from him a statement as to what had 
occurred in the stockade during the night. 

“ My young fellow,” said the sheriff, “ I judge from your 
conduct that you take very little interest in the death of 
Mr. Moore and the two men who were shot last night.” 

“ You’re right, I don’t care a nickel for ’em,” answered 
the young man. “ I was forced to stay with ’em or I would 
have left before you and your outfit came to the ranch. 
They threatened to kill me if I left the stockade. Half of 
the outfit ought to be killed.” 

“Where is the man known as Moore now?” asked the 
sheriff. 

“ I don’t know,” replied the young man, “ unless he is 
in a quick-sand hole in the river, where you seem to think 
he is. He and the boss and ‘ Bloody Sam ’ left the stock- 
ade last night about twelve o’clock, intending to make a 
break for the other side of the river, by the cottonwood ford.” 

“When did Moore come to the stockade?” asked the 
sheriff. 


• f 

A Story of the Times 153 

“ Day before yesterday, about two o’clock in the morn- 
ing,” replied the young man. 

“ Do you know whether one of his hands was wounded? ” 
asked the sheriff. 

“ Yes,” replied the young fellow, “ he had two fingers 
shot off in a fight over a girl, so he said.” 

The sheriff was satisfied with the identity of the man 
Moore, and had no doubt left that he was the one who at- 
tempted to enter Mr. Grafton’s house, and was now buried 
in the quick-sands ,of the river. He stated his conclusions 
to his men, and they set about getting ready to leave the 
stockade. 


Return of the Posse — Alarming Condition of 
Mr. Van Kirk. 

The teams and wagons belonging to the ranch, and 
those which had brought provisions and blankets and am- 
munition to the sheriff’s posse, were got ready and loaded 
with camp equipage, the prisoners and the dead bodies 
and started for Mr. Grafton’s ranch. The light spring 
wagon belonging to the ranch was used as an ambulance 
for the removal of Mr. Van Kirk, whose wounds had be- 
come painful, and the one in his leg so much inflamed and 
the limb so swollen that he was unable to walk even to the 
wagon, and had to be carried to it and lifted in. He was 
very pale and very weak, but was uncomplaining and 
cheerful,. He expressed great satisfaction at the ' result, 
but could not conceal the fact that he was very much wor- 
ried over the two men who had been shot by “ Black 
Hank ” and himself. The sheriff assured him that he had 
done his simple duty, and in that way sought to quiet what- 
ever of compunction he had on account of the killing. 

When the cavalcade reached the Grafton ranch there 
were quite a number of people gathered from neighboring 
farms to meet it and to learn the particulars of the capture. 
When Mr. Van Kirk was carried from the wagon to the 
house, it was the first the Graftons knew of his having 
been wounded the second time, and Mrs. Grafton was pre- 
vented from fainting only by a generous use of smelling 


154 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

salts and stimulants, while Mr. Grafton shed tears and 
gave expressions of sorrow as if the man had been his own 
son. Virginia was very much moved, but maintained a 
degree of calmness and presence of mind that seemed to 
be peculiarly hers under exciting conditions. She imme- 
diately dispatched a messenger for Doctor Kingsman, their 
family physician, and set about dressing the wounds of Mr. 
Van Kirk with antiseptics in a manner to indicate that she 
had not studied physiology and hygiene without purpose. 
She improvised a small tank of a tin bucket, which she 
suspended over the wounded limb and caused a small 
stream of water to trickle on the wound in order to reduce 
the inflammation, and to prepare it for such treatment as 
the surgeon might adopt on his arrival. She re-dressed 
the arm which had become very much inflamed and 
swollen since it was dressed before he joined the posse to 
capture the stockade. Mrs. Grafton, who had regained 
her self-possession sufficiently to assist Virginia, under the 
direction of the latter, had prepared a milk punch and some 
tempting food for the wounded man, who occasionally en- 
deavored to impress his friends with the idea that his 
wounds were of little consequence and were not giving him 
any special pain, but it was quite evident from the expres- 
sion of his eyes and his pinched face that he was suffering 
more than he was willing to admit,. 

The doctor came post-haste and gave the wounded man 
immediate attention. He found the patient suffering from 
shock, and really in a very dangerous condition. He in- 
formed Mr. Grafton and his family that Mr. Van Kirk 
needed the very best of care to save his life. The wounded 
man was told plainly that his Condition was extremely 
critical. He hardly realized that such was the case, and 
would not admit it to be so, yet he signified his willingness 
to place himself in the hands of the doctor, and under the 
kindly administrations of Mrs. Grafton and her daughter. 

“ I regret,” said Mr. Van Kirk, addressing himself to 
Mrs. Grafton and Virginia, “that anything has happened 
to bring additional worry and work into your life, but I 
sincerely trust it will not be of long duration.” 


A Story of the Times 


155 


“We hope you will not allow any thought that you are 
a burden to us to cause you the least uneasiness, Mr, Van 
Kirk/’ answered Mrs. Grafton. “ Under the circum- 
stances it is our duty to care for you, and, furthermore, 
since you must be nursed, we are glad that it is our privi- 
lege to nurse you.” 

The excitement in the community ran high for days 
after the tragical events described, and Mr. Van Kirk and 
“ Black Hank ” were the heroes talked of now quite as 
much as had been Miss Grafton after the blizzard. 

Mr. Van Kirk expressed a desire that “ Black Hank ” 
should remain on the Grafton ranch and be given com- 
fortable quarters at his expense until his recovery. This 
was satisfactory to Mr. and Mrs. Grafton, and when this 
plan, with Mr. Grafton’s approval, was submitted to “ Black 
Hank,” he went into ecstasies of joy over it. 

“ I just want’er stay with that man all my life,” ex- 
claimed “ Black Hank.” “ He’s as brave a man as ever I 
see under fire, and he’s as kind-hearted as a woman. I’ve 
larnt to love him, and I ain’t knowed him more’n two days,” 

The wounded man received every attention possible, yet 
his case grew worse and worse until the physician, who 
now remained at the ranch much of his time, had grave 
doubts of his patient’s recovery. The best physicians of 
the county were called into consultation, and they agreed 
that the chances of recovery were so slight that if the pa- 
tient had any important business which needed attention 
he had better attend to it at once. 

The Graftons were greatly alarmed. Virginia was at the 
patient’s beside unceasingly, and endeavored by every 
means in her power to encourage and reassure him. 

“ He must not die,” she said to her mother in a deter- 
mined yet supplicating voice. “We must save him! We 
must save him! ” This was the first time Virginia evinced 
signs of breaking down. She rallied, however, and brush- 
ing away the tears which came unbidden to her eyes, she 
repeated the words again, “ We must save him! ” 

Mr, Van Kirk was gently told that his case was so serious 


156 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

that he had better send for any relatives or friends he 
might desire to see. 

He called Virginia to him and gave her the names of his 
mother and two sisters, and the name of the family phy- 
sician, to whom ‘he dictated a telegram asking him to 
charter a special car and fetch his mother and sisters with 
the least possible delay. The telegram was hardly finished 
when “ Black Hank ” on a fleet horse was bearing it to 
the nearest telegraph office. An answer came back at once 
that they would be with him as soon as a special train could 
take them. A telegram from his mother said: 

“ Be brave, my boy, be brave for your mother’s sake. 
She will pray to God to spare you to her, and He will.” 

THEIR LIPS MET IN HOLY ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 

After the message had been dispatched, Mr. Van Kirk 
turned his face full towards Virginia and asked her to come 
nearer to him. He took her hand in his and said: 

“ Pardon me for this liberty, but I desire to say to you 
now that I came all the way from my home in New Jersey 
to tell you that I love you and earnestly desire to make 
you my wife. The more I have seen of you the more I 
have loved you; and if you esteem me worthy and consent, 
you will make my life, if prolonged, happier than it has 
ever been, and if I die my last moments will be hallowed 
and glorified by the thought that you love me.” 

Pie looked her calmly in the eyes and paused for an answer. 

Virginia placed her other hand on his and returned his 
gaze sweetly and lovingly, and simply said: 

“ It shall be as you wish,” and their lips met in a holy 
acknowledgment that they were one in soul. 

“ Thank you, dearest, thank you,” he answered as his 
face lighted up and a new strength came into his eyes, 
“ I am unworthy of you, unworthy of your great love, but 
if God spares my life it will be devoted to your happiness, 
and in proving to Him my gratitude for being spared.” 

“ As soon as my mother and sisters arrive,” he said after 
a few seconds of reflection, “ we shall be married if it is 


A Story of the Times 


157 


your pleasure. But lest I may not be alive when they 
come, I desire to dictate a codicil to my will in your favor; 
for I consider the tie that unites us quite as sacred as any 
ceremony could make it, and that you are as much entitled 
to a portion of my property as if you had been formally pro- 
nounced my wife/’ 

The physician was called to the bedside and was re- 
quested to reduce to writing the codicil as it should be 
dictated by Mr. Van Kirk,. When finished the new pro- 
vision in the will read: 

“To Virginia Grafton, the one woman whom I have 
loved and promised to marry, five hundred thousand dollars.” 

Four days later the special car bearing his mother and 
sisters and the family physician of the Van Kirks, with two 
eminent specialists from New York, arrived at the station, 
and was quickly side-tracked. Mr. Grafton and “ Black 
Hank ” were there with a carriage to convey them speedily 
to the ranch. 

The meeting between Mr,. Van Kirk and his mother and 
sisters was most affecting, and would be difficult to describe 
in words. After embracing her son, the mother sank in- 
voluntarily on her knees in prayer that he might be spared 
to her, and thanking the Father in heaven that she found 
him still alive and conscious. The sisters evinced a love for 
their brother that was touching and beautiful. 

The old family physician, who regarded Mr. Van Kirk 
as one of his children for the reason that he had presided 
at his birth, shed tears of thankfulness because they had 
found him alive, and promised “ his boy ” that he should 
get well, and that they would soon take him back with them. 

The arrival of the mother and sisters, and the new treat- 
ment prescribed by the specialists, had a most potent and 
electrifying effect on the patient, and within a few days the 
specialists gave substantial hope that he would recover. 

Before Mrs. Van Kirk and her daughters knew anything 
of the engagement between Mr. Van Kirk and Virginia, 
they had been completely captivated by her. 

“ We love the dear girl,” they said to Mr. Van Kirk, 
“ she is sweetness itself ; an angel of goodness and helpful- 


158 The Homesteader’s Daughter 

ness. We owe her a debt for her attentions to you that 
can never be paid.” 

“ Virginia says the debt has been paid already,” he an- 
swered. “ Whenever I refer to the debt I owe her for her 
goodness and that of her father and mother, she insists that 
the balance is on the other side of the ledger,” and he made 
a feeble attempt to laugh. 

His mother cautioned him and shook her finger com- 
mandingly to emphasize her desire that he should not 
exert himself. 

“ I will look serious, then, dear mother,” said the patient, 
“ if that is in better form and more helpful to a wounded 
man,” and he gave another suggestive laugh. 

The mother and sisters looked at each other and then at 
the patient gravely and wonderingly, as much as to ask, 
“ What do you mean? ” 

“ I will tell you something, mother,” he said, “ if you and 
sisters will promise me, ’pon honor, that you will say noth- 
ing to the doctors about it,” and he made a comical effort to 
look roguish. 

“ We promise, dearest,” they answered almost in concert, 
and then eagerly awaited the revelation he seemed ready to 
make. 

“ Virginia promised to become my wife,” he said as some 
color came into his pale face and his eyes became fairly lu- 
minous, “as soon as you came if the doctors would permit it.” 

“ But how is the consent of the doctors to be obtained,” 
they asked, “ if we are held to our promise to say nothing 
about it to them?” 

“ I will release you from that promise,” he replied, and a 
sweet smile passed over his countenance, “ on the one con- 
dition that you will immediately lay the matter before them 
and get their consent.” 

“ This is the work of angels,” exclaimed the mother. 

“Isn’t it romantic!” said the sisters. 

The promise was kept, and a happier bridal party, which 
included Mr. and Mrs. Grafton, and “ Black Hank,” never 
inaugurated a honeymoon under happier or more aus- 
picious circumstances. 






































































































































































































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